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LOT 1120
Urartu Bronze Mace or Sceptre Head
9TH-8TH CENTURY B.C.
2 3/8 in. (490 grams, 60 mm).
With cylindrical head and narrow flanged base, the head divided in four petals. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market.
Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.
See Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.XXXI, no.94, for a similar mace.
FootnotesAssyrian and Urartian officers are identified by their weapons in the reliefs. It is not so easy to definitely identify cavalry officers on the palace reliefs of the Assyrian kings, but their identification is based mainly on the context they appear in, and on some insignia (mace, sceptre) they carry with them. Hence, the mace was not only a practical weapon, but also a command insignia.
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AUCTIONS:
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Amlash Tanged Spearhead
12th century B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £83
Composed of a tapering leaf-shaped blade with raised midrib, splayed neck and tapering tang. 637 grams, 49 cm
Acquired on the London art market, prior to 1980s. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
The weapon belongs to the type 1 of the Khorasani spearhead classification, mainly from Marlik or Amlash areas. Similar pieces have been dated by Stutzinger to 1200-1100 B.C. -
Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
Comprising a double-edged cutting blade with tapering fullers and hefty tang; the bronze cross guard in Jellinge style with dragon head finials and a central human face to the lower edge; the pommel with seven lobes; accompanied by a bronze openwork chape with central bird motif decorated with stamped ring-and-dot design. 900 grams, 89.5 cm
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.11821-206859.
The blade of the sword is very similar to Petersen Type K; the hilt is a typical Type K, but having seven rather than five lobes to the pommel. The chape, the parallels of which are mostly of late 10th and early 11th centuries, is probably a later addition, possibly reworked to be fitted to the sword. -
Etrusco-Italic Breastplate with Mythical Animal
5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Displaying a repoussé horned animal advancing right, two roundels composed of bulbous rivets flanking the animal and encircling the central design; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 626 grams total, 28.5 cm high including stand
Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, formed between 1950 and 1970. The Schumanns inherited part of their collection from Henriette’s parents, Alice and Fernand Halphen, andjacques’ maternal grandfather, Albert Lehmann. Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, Christie's, Paris, 30th September 2003, lot 85. Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.107322. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11877-207824.
This type of armour, composed from a bronze breast and back plate with hinged shoulder straps, all the parts backed with iron, was used by Etruscans, Hernici, Aequi and Volsci, the feared enemies of early Rome. In particular our item has many parallels with the disc-cuirass (cardiophylax) found in the Necropolis of Alfadena.
