Viking Age and Later Iron Axehead Group

Featuring twisted bar open treads, arched side pieces grooved and connected by a strap bar. 780 grams total, 16.5 cm each



Acquired from Czerny's Auctions, Italy, 2016, lot 313. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of Czerny's invoice and lot details.

The rounded two-piece skull joined along the crest with a high medial comb, internally fitted with a quilted canvas lining sewn to a leather lining-band, the brow with a fixed rounded peak, outward-flanged rear edge with a matching one-piece neck guard, hinged cheek-pieces flanged outwards at the lower edge to serve as a continuation of the neck-guard. 1.7 kg, 29 cm



with Thomas Del Mar Ltd, 7th December 2017, lot 542. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the Thomas Del Mar invoice. 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.11762-203983.

The burgonet (Italian borgognotta) had developed at the beginning of the 16th century from the sallet and soon became a very popular helmet worn in many parts of Europe (especially in Germany and Northern Italy) by infantry and later cavalry units. A clear advantage of this helmet was the unifying a good protective function against cut and thrust weapons with a unhindered field of sight, good ventilation and user comfort due to the small weight and the fact it could be worn independently without an armour.

Mainly comprising socketted arrowheads of triangular type, including at least one barbed and one tanged example. 213 grams total, 32-56 mm



Ex private collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market in the 1990s.