Choose Category:

Home > Auctions > Starting 5th March 2024 > Roman Pattern-Welded Iron Spatha with Inlaid Military Figure

Print page | Email lot to a friend

Back to previous page


Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Gallery loading...

LOT 0306

Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,850

ROMAN PATTERN-WELDED IRON SPATHA WITH INLAID MILITARY FIGURE
LATE 2ND-EARLY 3RD CENTURY A.D.
32 1/4 in. (467 grams, 82 cm).

With double-edged blade of Lauriacum Hromówka typology with blood channels running for the most of its length; inlaid figure of standing Mars Ultor wearing armour (statos) and plumed galea helmet, holding a shield (aspis) and a spear; the blade cleaned and conserved on one side.

PROVENANCE:
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.11922-209659.

PUBLISHED:
Exhibited at Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 3rd February-9th March 2024; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefact on display.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Biborski, M., ‘Miecze z okresu wpływów rzymskich na obszarze kultury przeworskiej’, in Materiały Archeologiczne XVIII, 1978, pp.53-165; Robinson, H.R., What the soldiers wore on Hadrian’s Wall, Newcastle on Tyne, 1976-1979; Czarnecka, K., ‘Two newly-found Roman swords from the Przeworsk culture cemetery in Oblin, Siedlce District, Poland’ in JRMES 3, 1992, pp.41-56; Bishop, M. C., & Coulston, J.C.N., Roman military equipment, from the Punic wars to the fall of Rome, London, 1993; Biborski, M., ‘Römische Schwerter im Gebiet des europäischen Barbaricum’, in JRMES 5, 1994, pp. 169-198; Radjush, O., ‘New armament finds of the Scythian wars' epoch in the northern Black Sea region’ in Busch, A. W. and Schalles, H.-J. (eds.), Waffen in Aktion. Akten des 16. Internationale Roman Military Equipment Conference (ROMEC), Xanten, 13.–16. June 2007, Xantener Berichte 16, Darmstad, 2009, pp.183–8; Guillaud I., Militaria à Lugdunum: étude de l’armement et de l’équipement militaire d’époque romaine à Lyon (1er s. av.-IVe s. apr. J.-C.), Archéologie et Préhistoire, Lyon, 2017; for very similar specimens see Miks, 2007, nos. A146,3; A146,10 (Ejsbol); A384 (Krasnik-Piasti); A595 (Pontoux); A830 (Sisak); A620 (Rezeczyca Dluga); A586 (Pododlow); A676 (Sobotka); A211 (Kielce) and especially A681,1 (South Shields).

CONDITION
VETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous 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.