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LOT 1410
'The Farnham Castle' English Medieval Socketted Macehead
13TH-14TH CENTURY A.D.
3 1/8 in. (312 grams, 80 mm).
With a long tubular socket and raised circumferential ribs, three tiers of radiating spikes; found with remains of wooden haft in situ. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFound near Farnham Castle, Farnham, Surrey, UK.
From the private collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Cf. Gilliot, C., Weapons and Armours, Bayeux, 2008, pp.160-161, for similar maceheads.
FootnotesMaces were in use since the Bronze Age. In the Medieval Western Europe, maces are attested in England as throwing weapons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At the end of 12th century A.D., the mace head was made of metal and was, under the influence of Byzantium, one of the weapons of the armoured knight. Originally of round section and armed with strong pyramidal spikes, the mace head evolved into a cylindrical shape, sometimes reinforced with spikes, most often with flanges.
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LOT 1410
'The Farnham Castle' English Medieval Socketted Macehead
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
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Very Large Tanged Bronze Spear
1900-1650 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Each side rising to a pointed ridge, curved tang for attaching to a shaft. 1.06 kg, 73 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.
The characteristic point is the hooked tang, the end of which was fitted with a button. The spear was inserted into a wooden barrel and then held in place with a series of leather laces (Gernez, 2007, p.312). -
North-Western Persian Bronze Sword Blade with Horns
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
With curved 'horns' projecting on either side at the top of the waisted grip, blade with flat mid-rib. 325 grams, 51 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The Luristani people produced a quantity of fine metalwork, which according to Dr Khorasani, could be due to a settled period which arose as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 B.C. According to Khorasani 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150-1050 B.C.' -
Large Roman Socketted Iron Spearhead
3rd-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
With a large triangular blade, fitted with a central shallow groove, squared shoulders and a socketted shaft. 834 grams, 46.5 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.
This spear was probably part of the armament of the Imperial Guards of the late Roman Empire. Similar spears are visible on the recently found reliefs of Nicomedia, in the hands of a protector divini lateris (guard of the Divine Flanks) of the Emperor Diocletian (Agturk, 2021, p.115) and other Imperial infantrymen. The same kind of spear is visible on a recently discovered sarcophagus of a protector of Diocletian, Tziampo, from the same locality.
