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LOT 0306
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.
ProvenanceFrom 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.
Exhibited at Harwich Museum, Harwich, Essex, UK, 3rd February-9th March 2024; accompanied by a copy of a photograph of the artefact on display.
LiteratureCf. 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).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0306
Roman Pattern-Welded Iron Spatha with Inlaid Military Figure
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,850
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Saxon Iron Armory Group
Circa 6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Comprising: axehead with sturdy square-section neck, T-shaped blade, hammer-face to rear of the socket; barbed spearhead with split socket; long single-edged knife with stub tang. 1.37 kg total, 16.5-43 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
With domed filler-hole, broad shoulder, alternating bands of crescent impressed detailing; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 242 grams, 10.1 cm
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. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Roman Bronze Belt Mount Group
2nd-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Comprising: a rectangular plaque with stepped void openwork and scrolled ends; a rectangular mount with rectangular and circular voids; a piriform mount with central void, trefoil to the interior; pierced twice for attachment; a pendant with broad loop, D-shaped plaque with three-lobed void. 70 grams total, 40-74 mm
Acquired before 1980. Ex London, UK collector. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.
Belt of Antonine Age incorporated openwork designs, many of which show traces of Celtic decorative influence. According to Bishop & Coulston, these fittings were recognisable as the prototypes for those excavated in the 3rd century Roman military sites.
