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LOT 1495
Viking Age Iron Hooked Axehead
CIRCA 9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
5 1/4 in. (378 grams, 13.5 cm).
With long, deeply curved blade, narrow neck, socket with triangular flanges and incised crossed lines, rectangular extension to the rear. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceEx North American private collection, 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
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AUCTIONS:
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Ovoid body with short neck, impressed annulets on the body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 855 grams, 14.3 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. -
Viking Age Iron Sword Decorated Hilt
11th-13h century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,720
Double-edged cutting sword of Couronian type with tapering fullers, bronze cross-guard with Jellinge Style type decoration; five-lobed bronze pommel rivetted at the top. 814 grams, 88 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.12784-240320. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The Couronian swords of this type with animal head decoration were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from 10th to 13th century. -
Anglo-Saxon Iron 'Battle Damaged' Shield Boss and Spear
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Comprising: ferrous shield boss of Härke & Dickinson's Type 3 with broad flange, deep sidewall with carination and domed cone; flared apex stud; traces of fixing rivets in underside of flange; spearhead of Swanton's Type E2, lenticular in section with elongated lozengiform profile, split socket. 437 grams total, 17-17.5 cm
Found East Anglia, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The distortion to the shield boss appears to have been produced by an impact blow from a sturdy, wedge-section blade, probably an axe.
