Loading, please wait...

Roman Bronze Armour Double Fastening Hook Roman Bronze Armour Double Fastening Hook Roman Bronze Armour Double Fastening Hook
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 1075

Roman Bronze Armour Double Fastening Hook

1ST CENTURY A.D.

2 3/4 in. (33 grams total, 70 mm each).

Each a scrolled and angled bar tapering to a gently carinated zoomorphic terminal, formed as a serpent or other animal with stylised geometric detailing; attachment perforations to both terminals. [2 3/4 in.]

Provenance

Acquired on the London art market, 1980s-1990s.

Literature

Cf. D'Amato, R. and Sumner, G., Arms and Armour of the Imperial Roman Soldier: From Marius to Commodus, 112 BC-AD 192, London, 2009, fig.160, for similar double fastening hooks.

Footnotes

In the 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D., the Celtic fastening system of the ring mail armour (gallica, lorica ferro aspera) became the standard in the Imperial Roman army, with a pivot attached to the breast and hinged to the edges of the humeralia (shoulder guards). The chest fastener had various different designs. The double hooks, S-shaped and usually with snake-head terminals, were secured by a central rivet on the chest. The system allowed excellent freedom of movement, giving greater protection to the shoulders and the arms. Similar fasteners for infantry mail have been found on the Kalkriese battlefield, some of them also decorated with niello and inscribed with the name of the soldier.

CONDITION
VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 1075

Roman Bronze Armour Double Fastening Hook

Sold for (Inc. bp): £176

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head
    Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head
    12th-10th century B.C.

    Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £50

    With foliate head and short tubular socketted shaft. 119 grams, 15 cm



    Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.

    Snodgrass assigns the Athenian iron spearheads to the type A, i.e. spearheads with a leaf-shaped blade, a long socket and a midrib running to the tip. The bronze ones were assigned to typologies C – small, with a leaf-shaped blade (like the present specimen) - and D – with the socket as long as the blade, rounded shoulders and pronounced midrib. Both socket types were beaten round a cylindrical bar, a conservative method to produce bronze sockets even if the head was in iron.

    Lot Details

  • Post Medieval Fencing Foil Pair
    Post Medieval Fencing Foil Pair
    Circa 1900 A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £33

    Each with a long and narrow blade, the longer of square section, the shorter rectangular, each fitted with traditional slender, straight hilt, guard and finger-ring. 657 grams total, 85-106 cm



    Acquired from Czerny's Auctions, Italy, 2016, lot 280. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of Czerny's invoice and listing.

    Lot Details

  • Amarlu Type Bronze Sword with Blood Channels
    Amarlu Type Bronze Sword with Blood Channels
    Late 2nd millenium B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £715

    Formed with a long triangular blade, thick midrib with parallel fullers, rectangular guard, long tang with folded end. 668 grams, 73 cm



    Acquired on the London art market, prior to 1980s. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

    This sword finds a good parallel with a bronze sword with bell-shaped pommel, today in the National Museum of Tehran. Originally these swords had separately made hilt which was then cast on the blade. These swords were more typical of the North-West Persian territory, especially in the Amlash and Gilan areas.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list