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LOT 1419
Saxon Iron Single-Edged Seax Sword Blade
7TH-8TH CENTURY A.D.
19 3/4 in. (610 grams, 50 cm).
Of Wheeler's Type I with point at the median line, broad with thick back and wide, flat tang for a whittle-tang hilt assemblage; incised lines to both faces following the profile of the back and cutting edge. [No Reserve]
ProvenancePrivate collection, UK.
LiteratureCf. Webster et al., The Golden Age of Anglo-Saxon Art 966 to 1066, London, 1984, item 94, for type.
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:
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Cylindrical body with pointed tip, two vertical lugs on the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 513 grams, 14.5 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. 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. -
Amlash Type Bronze Spearhead
12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Leaf-shaped blade and rectangular-section shank developing from the raised midrib, flared below with a rectangular-section tang. 300 grams, 36.5cm
Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The weapon belongs to the type 1 of the spear-head classification of Khorasani, mainly from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 B.C. -
Very Large Finno-Ugrian Iron Socketted Spearhead
Circa 12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
Leaf-shaped blade with raised midrib extending to facetted-section tapering socket with fastening hole; professionally cleaned, conserved, and restored. 745 grams, 38.7 cm
Cleaned, conserved and restored.
From the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
The more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic and Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and longbows. Swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden, or from elsewhere in Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments, although Finnish-made items have also been found.
