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LOT 1020
Roman Iron Military Plumbata Head
4TH-5TH CENTURY A.D.
7 1/2 in. (116 grams, 19 cm).
Missile weapon with short iron shaft and square-section barbed head, lead sleeve to the lower end of the shaft. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of B. Posey, UK, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Southern, P. & Dixon, K.R., The Late Roman Army, London, 1996, fig.46, pp.113-115; See Barker, P., The plumbatae from Wroxeter, in Hassall and Ireland, De Rebus Bellicis, BAR Int. Ser., vol. 63, Oxford, 1979.
FootnotesThe lead-weighted darts known as plumbatae mamillatae, (or breasted javelin) were short darts mounted upon a shaft, of the same shape, and thrown from a short distance. A Roman soldier would typically carry around 5-6 of these darts at any one time, fastened to the back of his shield. They could be thrown overhand or underhand, with an effective throwing range of up to 60 meters by trained soldiers. They could also be fixed upon longer shafts.
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Chinese and Greek Bronze Arrowhead Group
Circa 3rd century B.C.-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Comprising two triangular-section Greek arrowheads; a gilt triangular-section arrowhead with short tubular socket. 18.9 grams total, 24-40 mm
Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman. -
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Italic Bronze Triple-Disc Cuirass
South-Central Italy, 420-350 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,360
Matched pair of Samnite triangular breast and backplates, a suite of 'triple-disc' type, each with three repoussé panels with carinated rim, flat spandrel above and curved on the lower sides, with perforated edges to affix to a separate mail garment; rivetted loops to the shoulders for attachment of supporting straps, and similar lateral loops with portion of round-link chain in situ; mounted on a custom-made stand. 2.72 kg total, 40 cm high including stand
Ex Axel Guttmann collection of ancient arms and armour, Germany (1944-2001). with Hermann Historica, Munich, Germany. Ex Art Ancient, London, UK, 2019. with Sotheby’s, London, Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art, Part II, 8 December 2021, lot 155. 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 no.11941-210864.
These breastplates (kardiophylax) were a reduced version of the muscled armour (statos). Many archaeological specimens of this type were found in South Italian graves (Paestum, Alfedena), and are represented on the famous statuette of a Samnite Warrior found in Sicily (Connolly, 1981, p.108) in the Louvre and on many frescoes from Paestum, or are visible on the Campanian and Lucanian pottery, representing warriors (Christie's, 2004, no.90). The triple cuirass is well attested in archaeology, and the finds of Alfadena and Paestum show that it was mainly used by the coastal Samnites. This example is fairly representative of those in which the shoulder and side plates were attached to the front and back plates by rings and hooks. Born suggested that the upper two discs of the cuirass represented the pectoral muscles, the disc below the abdominal muscles. -
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Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowheads, Javelin Heads and Daggers
3rd millennium-7th century B.C.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £90
Comprising ten slender tanged arrowheads, javelin heads and daggers, some lozenge-section and some with raised midribs. 329 grams total, 14-21.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
Most of these blades are bipartite, but the definition of the bipartite type is not absolute as it brings together weapons of very different and unrelated designs. In fact, some weapons do not have a sufficiently characteristic shape to be interpreted as a spear, dagger, or long arrowhead. The javelin heads classified by Gernez as type Type L 3 are characterized by the simplicity of their design. They have a sharp and/or pointed active part, a flat, elliptical or rhomboidal cross-section and an elongated tang with a rectangular, square or circular section, ending in a pointed, widened, curved or folded blade.
