Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1430

Roman Iron 'Hipposandal' Military Ice Horseshoe

1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.

8 1/4 in. (617 grams, 21 cm).

With lateral curved plates and scrolled bar to the front, rear panel with hooked spur for attachment. [No Reserve]

Provenance

From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

Literature

Cf. Junkelmann, M., Die Reiter Roms, Teil III: Zubehor, Reitweise, Bewaffnung Mainz, 1992, fig.100-102, for the type.

Footnotes

Hipposandals (soleae ferreae) were used on horses with injured hooves, a sort of equine orthopaedic shoe used by the mulomedicus, i.e. a Roman military veterinarian. Another important function was that to protect the hooves of the horse from injuries and damages from hard objects. The hipposandal of type 1 was formed from a sub-oval plate which tapered towards the front and rear with projections at the front, back and on either side. The heel was upturned at about 45 degrees and flared outwards. It would have terminated with a downward facing hook, now missing. The base of the sole was flat.

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 1430

Roman Iron 'Hipposandal' Military Ice Horseshoe

Sold for (Inc. bp): £390

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • 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

  • Bactrian Bronze Eye Axehead
    Bactrian Bronze Eye Axehead
    3rd-2nd millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £150

    Fan-shaped blade; an apotropaic eye in relief to each side of the socket; wing-shaped extension to the rear. 327 grams, 16 cm



    From an old London, UK, collection. Ex London, UK, gallery.

    Most of these axes are believed to have originated in Bactria, but some objects come from well documented contexts in Margiane (Gonur), Lut (Shahdad) and Kermanshah (Khinaman). According to Gernez they were made for ceremonial use.

    Lot Details

  • Luristan Bronze Horse Harness Cheekpiece
    Luristan Bronze Horse Harness Cheekpiece
    11th-8th century B.C.

    Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £160

    In the form of a righthand side bar, surmounted by two loops for additional straps, ending in a lion's head at the front, the other extremity bending outwards and ending with a conical tip, remains of the iron bar visible on the sides; once belonging to an articulate bit. 130 grams, 13.5 cm wide

    Fine condition.

    Acquired mid 1980s to early 1990s. Private family collection formed in London, UK.

    The association of Psalia in the shape of a bar and with an articulated bit is documented in Assyria, in Media and in central Iran starting from the 10th century B.C., but the zoomorphic elements of this specimen suggest that it was produced in Luristan. The use of articulated bits, which moved inside the horse's mouth, exerting a minimal pressure on the reins, allowed for better control of the mount.

    Lot Details

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