Loading, please wait...

Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 0308

Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles

CIRCA 1ST-2ND CENTURY A.D.

26 3/8 in. (870 grams total, 67 cm high including stand).

With fish-shaped blade of piled iron construction with square shoulder and flat-section tang; incised triskele motif to one face, each arm terminating in a bird's head with curved beak and lentoid eye; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.

Provenance

Acquired in the 2000s.
From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK.

Literature

Cf. triskele motif on metalwork from Tal-y-llyn, Wales, in Savory, H.N., Guide catalogue of the Early Iron Age Collections, Cardiff, 1976, plate 12.

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 0308

Roman Iron Gladius Sword with Bird Triskeles

Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
    Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
    13th-7th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £72

    Tanged, barbed and leaf-shaped types. 91 grams total, 10.3-14 cm



    Ex G. White collection, 1980s-1990s.

    Lot Details

  • Medieval Iron Prick Spur
    Medieval Iron Prick Spur
    Circa 12th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £975

    With abruptly curved arms ending in two loops, the prick with biconvex bulb. 73 grams, 13 cm



    Ex B Posey collection, 1990s. Ex Den of Antiquity, Cambridgeshire, UK. Accompanied by a dealer's catalogue information card.

    Lot Details

  • Viking Age Iron Sword with Bronze Hilt
    Viking Age Iron Sword with Bronze Hilt
    10th-13th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160

    With a double-edged tapering blade, long tapering fullers and a narrow tang; boat-shaped bronze cross-guard with Jellinge Style decoration; the upper guard with similar ornament topped by a seven-lobed pommel. 675 grams, 88 cm

    The blade is generally complete and in good conditions, although traces of corrosion are visible on the surface and on the edges; both cutting edges show strong traces of employ on battlefield, with battle-nicks along their length; pitting from possible water depot; still-homogenous blade structure, with strong delamination and material losses visible on the original surface of the metal.

    From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12011-213595.

    This Couronian sword finds a good parallel with Baltic swords, used by Prussian, Couronians, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a sword once in the Prussian Museum, inventory V. Nr. 8368, from Janischken (Fig. 1,a); other clear parallels can be seen in Kazakevičius, 1996, figs.62-63 (fig.2) and Tomsons, 2012, fig.2 (Fig.3),3,7. The Curonian swords of this type, sometimes with animal head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from 10th to 13th century.

    Lot Details

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