Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1347

Roman Iron 'Hipposandalus' Military Horseshoe

1ST-4TH CENTURY A.D.

6 1/2 in. (350 grams, 16.5 cm).

Iron shoe with lateral curved plates and vertical 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 (type I of Junkelmann's classification).

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 1347

Roman Iron 'Hipposandalus' Military Horseshoe

Sold for (Inc. bp): £494

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Viking Age Narrow Iron Axehead
    Viking Age Narrow Iron Axehead
    Circa 9th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £234

    With triangular-section long blade extending to a socket with small lateral flanges and rectangular extension to the rear. 229 grams, 12.6 cm



    Property of London businessman, from his grandfather's collection after WW2; thence by family descent. From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue information page.

    Lot Details

  • Iron Age Celtiberian Dagger
    Iron Age Celtiberian Dagger
    Circa 2nd-1st century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £975

    Hand-forged with leaf-shaped blade and three pronounced midribs, rounded shoulder, stepped lower guard square-section tang, upper guard with stepped upper face. 186 grams, 37.5 cm



    Ex Mayfair gallery, London, UK, before 1999. Property of a London, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue information page.

    Lot Details

  • Byzantine Greek Fire Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    10th-13th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £208

    Piriform body decorated with concentric circles, with sphero-conical filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 472 grams, 13 cm



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

    Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

    Lot Details

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