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LOT 0309
Viking Age Iron Pattern-Welded Sword with Bronze Jellinge Hilt
11TH-13TH CENTURY A.D.
36 5/8 in. (918 grams, 92.5 cm).
Double-edged cutting sword of Curonian Type with tapering fullers and showing battle scars; boat-shaped bronze cross-guard with Jellinge Style decoration, the seven-lobed pommel with similar decoration.
ProvenanceFrom 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.12175-221434.
See Kazakevičius, Балтские мечи IX-XIII вв. (Baltic Swords, 9th-13th century AD), Vilnius, 1996; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002.
FootnotesThe Curonian swords of this type, sometimes with animal head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from 10th to 13th century. Curonian swords possessed both plastic hilt details (ends of the lower guards in the form of animal heads) of animal style, a clear influence from the Germanic style of Scandinavians, as well as a regular geometric ornament, a decoration motif derived from the Romanesque art.
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LOT 0309
Viking Age Iron Pattern-Welded Sword with Bronze Jellinge Hilt
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000€3,480 - 4,640 (for guidance only)$4,050 - 5,400 (for guidance only)
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Cased Medieval to Tudor 'Published' Iron Crossbow Bolt Collection
12th-16h century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Comprising: 14 crossbow bolts with pyramidal point, square-section shaft, and a tubular socket. 1.24 kg total, 32.5 x 22.5 x 5 cm
From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968.
The crossbow, a bow fixed at its centre to a wooden stock, was a formidable weapon reintroduced in Western Europe in 11th century A.D.; it was used by the Genoese crossbowmen, mainly in French service, during the 100 Years War; its heavy bolt could easily penetrate a shield or armour breast plate at close range. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Piriform body with segmented shoulder and impressed roundels, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 294 grams, 91 mm
From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s. 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'.
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. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, the upper body with impressed ring-and-dot motifs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 415 grams, 10.6 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 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'.
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.
