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LOT 0296
Tower 'Brown Bess' Musket and Bayonet
CIRCA 1800 A.D.
68 in. (4.60 kg, 173 cm with bayonet).
Napoleonic era musket with 93cm (36½") smooth-bore barrel of .75" bore with London proof marks, the lockplate with 'TOWER', 'crown-over-G R' and inspection marks; fitted with full wood stock stamped 'S' and 'IR' to left side and butt with brass butt plate, trigger guard, ferrules, fore-end and sideplate; fitted with sling swivel loops and steel ramrod with cleaning rag eye; action working well in half and full cock, with correct steel socket bayonet.
ProvenanceAcquired from Andrew Bottomley, UK, 2014.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
Accompanied by copy of the invoice and listing.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.204080.
The 'Brown Bess' musket, in several versions, was the standard British infantry longarm from about 1736 to 1838; some were later converted to the percussion system.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.
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AUCTIONS:
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Roman Iron Spatha Sword
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Comprising a wide double-edged blade of Illerup-Wyhl typology; blood channels and later inlays to both sides. 652 grams, 83 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Specimens of Roman spathae of 2nd-3rd centuries have been found in large numbers in Danish bogs (Nydam, Straubing, Thorsberg, Illerup). The Straubing-Nydam type shows straight and convergent cutting edges, the width of which is reduced along the blade. -
North-West Persian Bronze Spearhead
Early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
Short triangular two-edged blade with thick midrib, long round-section neck with V-shaped recesses to the lower end, tapering square-section tang. 268 grams, 34.5 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
The spearhead belongs to a typology of spears widespread in the Marlik region, which Negahban divided into two categories. This spearhead belongs to type II, spearheads with triangular blades with rather short blade and shaft with a long tang, the total length of the blade being less than that of the shaft and tang together. -
Greek Bronze Chalcidian Helmet
5th-4th century B.C.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,667
Of Kunze Group VII, formed from two curved segments, each with a flared rim, nasal, raised panels to the upper section of the bowl, repoussé ridge forming curved brows, a recess for the ear to each side; star-shaped attachment to the top with slot for plumes; restored and with replica cheek pieces. 2.7 kg total, 42.5 cm high including stand
Restored, but in general good condition, rare details
Acquired in the 1970s. Ex private Austrian collection. The Kusmirek Collection, UK Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a report of metallurgical analytical results, written by metallurgist Dr Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11763-203979.
Among the Chalcidian helmet types, the fifth and last typology, corresponding to the Kunze group VII (Pflug, 1988, p.138), was characterised by the presence of detached cheek-guards. By the end of the 5th century BC, the fixed cheek-pieces had been entirely abandoned on the Chalcidian helmets for the more versatile hinged cheek pieces. As is the case with most of the Greek helmets in 5th and 4th century B.C., very few originals have been found on the Greek continent. Several district regional workshops produced such helmets by the 5th century B.C.: mainland Greece, the Black Sea Coast, Thrace, Southern Italy and Iberia.
