'The Farnham Castle' English Medieval Socketted Macehead

Comprising four tips with triangular blades; each with a raised midrib and a long tang. 143 grams total, 13.5-18.2 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Although some of them are different in shape, these arrowheads are apparently related types of a polythetic group. Two basic deltoid forms are represented: one has a sharp, flat blade, the ends of which extend to form wings or barbs, and a prominent midrib extending into a long tang that often has a stop; the blade shape varies from deltoid to more manifestly triangular. The other form has no barbs, but it has a prominent midrib extending to the tang, and a narrow leaf-shaped blade.

Square in section and curved in profile with pierced lobes and attachment rivets. 252 grams total, 7.2-43 cm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

These kind of shields are often found in the burials of nomadic warriors of Eastern Europe accompanied by certain sets of weapons — four-part helmets, quiver kits, sabers and a spearhead. Such graves contained the remains of similar wooden shields with metal parts. Determining the dating of these burial complexes in the framework of the Golden Horde time, the Archaeologists dwell in detail on the attribution of the helmets and the remnants of the shields, linking their appearance in the Northeast Black Sea Coast with the resettlement here of the black hoods from Southern Russia in 1260s.

With a double-edged tapering blade, long tapering fullers and a narrow tang; boat-shaped bronze cross-guard with Jellinge Style decoration; the upper guard with similar ornament topped by a seven-lobed pommel. 675 grams, 88 cm

The blade is generally complete and in good conditions, although traces of corrosion are visible on the surface and on the edges; both cutting edges show strong traces of employ on battlefield, with battle-nicks along their length; pitting from possible water depot; still-homogenous blade structure, with strong delamination and material losses visible on the original surface of the metal.

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.12011-213595.

This Couronian sword finds a good parallel with Baltic swords, used by Prussian, Couronians, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a sword once in the Prussian Museum, inventory V. Nr. 8368, from Janischken (Fig. 1,a); other clear parallels can be seen in Kazakevičius, 1996, figs.62-63 (fig.2) and Tomsons, 2012, fig.2 (Fig.3),3,7. The Curonian swords of this type, sometimes with animal head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from 10th to 13th century.