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LOT 1064
North-West Persian Bronze Sword Blade
EARLY 1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 3/4 in. (370 grams, 45 cm).
Narrow triangular blade with raised median panel, scooped shoulders and short tang with pierced bulb finial.
ProvenanceEx German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
LiteratureCf. Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 1, London, 2002, p.34, no.31.
FootnotesThe hilt of this magnificent sword would have originally been made of organic material. The forms of hilt are often replicated on cast metal counterparts. As proved by excavations of sites like Sangtarashan, stones were often used for decorating metal weapons, especially for bronze dagger pommels.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Iron Dagger with Ring Pommel
Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Featuring a distinctively shaped ring at the end of the grip, double-edged relatively short blade and a tapered tip. 376 grams, 58 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This kind of sword - called by modern scholars as ringknaufschwert or ring-pommel sword - was firstly diffused amongst the auxiliary troops, probably Sarmatians and Germans, and then, during the 2nd century A.D., was also commonly used amongst the milites legionis and the officers. The shape of their blades is similar to the Pompey typology, but a slightly less acute angle characterises the passage from the blade to the short point. There were longer specimens like spatha, opening the transformation of the legionary gladius in the longer spatha specimens of the successive period, and also shorter specimens. An important dating element for earlier specimens is the sword from the Matrica grave, in Pannonia, dated exactly to 147 A.D. based on the other grave goods. Specimens of the second half of 2nd century A.D. are known from Wehringen and Geneva (180 A.D.). A specimen from Bosnia could be chronologically assigned to the same period, although such kind of swords became much more widespread for infantry and cavalry in later times. However, the importance of such swords has been recently associated with the rank of the provincial officers who used them, including miniature variations of such swords used as pendants as insignia badge of the staff of the Provincial governors. It was connected with the image of the sword and the dagger as a symbol of the Imperial power. -
Mexican Iron Rowel Spur
18th-19th century A.D.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £60
Heelband with geometric motifs, channelling and lozengiform terminals, pierced work neck and large free-running rowel. 252 grams, 22 cm
Acquired from Rusty Old Arms, UK, 2014. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of the ROA invoice and listing. -
Medieval Quillon Dagger with Bronze Pommel
England or Germany, 16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
Featuring a hexagonal brass pommel engraved with a fleur-de-lis to one side and a dragon to the other; pierced tang, two short quillons inclining towards the blade, terminating in lion head-shaped finials; straight single-edged blade, with side ridges to both faces of the blade, tapering to a fine point. 177 grams, 34 cm
Tang is heavily corroded, trace of employment on the battlefield.
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
Quillon daggers were predominantly employed as a military weapon. During the 16th century, this dagger continued to be popular, although the hilt no longer resembled that of the contemporary sword, as sword hilts had developed into more intricate forms.
