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LOT 0302
Viking Age Bronze Lower Sword Guard with Dragons
11TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
4 in. (124 grams, 10 cm).
Sloping shoulders and transverse slot to the upper face, lateral beast-head terminals; panel of palmette ornament to each broad face with tendrils, dentilled lower edge; Baltic Curonian type.
ProvenanceFrom the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century.
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 a search certificate number no.12727-236128.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Tomsens, A., Symbolism of Medieval Swords from the Territory of Latvia During the 11th-13th Centuries, Lodz, 2013, pp.145-161, nos.2,3,7.
FootnotesThe cross guard finds good parallels with Baltic swords used by Prussian, Curonian, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a clear parallel in Tomsons, 2012, fig.2,7 but especially fig. 3. The Curonian Type T swords were thoroughly examined by Tomsons and he was able to date the type to the 11th to 13th centuries.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0302
Viking Age Bronze Lower Sword Guard with Dragons
Estimate £1,200 - 1,700€1,390 - 1,970 (for guidance only)$1,620 - 2,300 (for guidance only)
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Medieval Iron Arrowhead Collection
Circa 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Comprising tanged arrowheads of various types. 40 grams total, 61-94 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Piriform body with dome mouth, impressed annulets to the body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 570 grams, 12.2 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Collection
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Comprising: four large tanged arrowheads, mainly of triangular type with mid-rib; six triangular, leaf-shaped, barbed, and paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat, comparatively wide mid-rib; one small triangular arrowhead with rounded shoulders; two arrowheads with wings, resembling a stylised flying bird; one foliate with herringbone decoration on the midrib; a triangular type with flat mid-rib and raised corners; two small paddle-shaped arrowheads with flat mid-rib; an Achaemenid trilobate socketted arrowhead. 253 grams total, 3.7-15 cm
From the London art market, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The most interesting specimen is the foliate blade with herringbone decoration on the mid-rib. Two examples with similar decoration are published by Muscarella, that according to the publications of Ghirsman are typical of North-West Iranian Plateau.
