Roman Bone Scabbard Attachment

3RD CENTURY A.D.

2 1/2 in. (19.2 grams, 64 mm).

Carved with dentilled edge above and scooped base, lateral fluting, median rib and comma-shaped voids; to reverse, lateral slots to accept the case of the scabbard. [No Reserve]

Provenance

From a London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Literature

Cf. Miks, C., Studien zur Romischen Schwertbewaffnung in der Kaiserzeit, I-II Banden, Rahden, 2007, I, pls.261ff. esp.B1,1; B13 (58).

Footnotes

The box chapes were a clear category of scabbard closures for the 3rd century Roman swords. The shape of the chape was that of a high rectangle laterally closed by a flat border remembering a box; the sides enlarge in a bow shape on the lower part. Miks has divided the category in three variants, A-B-C, each of them divided into two sub-variants. They were mainly made of bone, although specimens in bronze (Corbridge, Aquincum) and iron (Kunzing, Dura Europos? This last very corroded) and even in silver (Hortbágy) survive.

CONDITION

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LOT 0830