Loading, please wait...
LOT 1092
Roman Iron Plumbata Mamillata
4TH-5TH CENTURY A.D.
6 in. (85 grams, 15 cm).
The barbed head with tapering cylindrical stem and biconical lead weight.
ProvenanceEx J. Layne collection, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Southern, P. & Dixon, K.R., The Late Roman Army, London, 1996, fig.46, pp.113-115.
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.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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.
-
Roman Style Bronze Cuirass
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Modelling a muscular male torso with naturalistic anatomical detailing. 1.49 kg, 53 cm high
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard
Circa 1942 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
By Rodgers, with finely shaped 15cm stiletto blade with traces of original black finish tapering to a steel oval guard and fitted with a brass 'beaded and ringed' shaped hilt secured by a copper pommel nut; the hilt bearing the War Department 'broad arrow' and '2' marks near to the guard; with the original leather scabbard fitted with brass rivets and chape, pierced for belt wear and with the side flaps for sewing cut away as commonly seen when belt worn; the dagger showing wear with minor chipping to the blade. 254 grams, 33 cm overall
Property of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.
In the autumn of 1942, the Rodgers firm produced what many consider to be the best of all the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes knives: the 'Beads and Ridges' model (or 'Beaded and Ringed'); so-called for its distinctive grip pattern to the brass hilt of single rings of tiny beads, interspersed between sections of four to seven plain rings. The blade is delicate and uniform, and the weapon, though light, is well balanced. The blade finish was black (as this example) or nickel. All of this type are considered to be at least scarce. According to both Fredrick Stephens and Leroy Thompson the type was a commercial variant for private purchase; however, there are some rare cases of this type which were officially issued with the War Department broad arrow and number marks, as with this example. -
Luristan Arrowhead Collection
14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Comprising leaf-shaped and triangular, tanged and barbed arrowheads. 70 grams total, 9.1-12.4 cm
English private collection, acquired 1970s. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
The arrowheads correspond to the classification of the arrowheads with elongated triangular shape with barbed shoulders and lanceolate head with rounded shoulders from the category type V, according to the studies of Khorasani and the excavations in Negahban.
