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LOT 1512
Viking Age Danish Iron Broad Axehead
LATE 10TH-EARLY 11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 3/8 in. (245 grams, 13.6 cm).
With rectangular spurs above and below the curved socket, medium-broad flaring triangular-section blade extending to a curved edge, hammer extension to the rear. [No Reserve]
ProvenancePrivate collection, York, UK, 1990s.
Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Williams, G., Pentz, P. & Wemhoff, M., Vikings Life and Legend, London, 2014, item 25, p.90, a similar axe from a male burial in Hellvi (Gotland, grave 222B).
FootnotesThe first specialised battle-axes which appeared in the second half of the 10th century A.D. were light, narrow, usually thinly forged but with broad-edged blades, sometimes decorated with precious metals.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Tudor Hand Cannon Bronze Shot
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Spherical shot from a large hand gun or a small cannon. 90.6 grams, 27 mm
Acquired on the UK art market in the early 2000s. 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): £104
Bulbous body with domed mouth, incised circumferential band on the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 392 grams, 10.4 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. -
Romano-British 'Verulanium' Lead Slingshot
2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Biconical in profile with reserved 'thunderbolt' motif to two faces; old inked collector's reference '130'. 59 grams, 37 mm
Found near St Albans (Verulamium), UK. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The missiles of ovoid shape belong to type Ia of the Völling classification. The sling (funda) with its lead missiles (plumbea pondera or glandae) and stone (lapides) was used by special funditores, illustrated on Trajan’s Column where they are simply dressed in broad tunics with no armour, but carry a shield. A fold in their cloak, or sagulum, acted as an ammunition bag. The effectiveness of the slingers was unquestionable and much appreciated, especially against elephants. Celsus, writing towards the end of the 2nd century A.D., described how a slingshot wound was more dangerous and harder to treat than one inflicted by an arrow.
