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LOT 1419
Viking Age Iron Socketted Spearhead
10TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
12 1/2 in. (270 grams, 31.6 cm).
Leaf-shaped blade with raised midrib extending to round-section tapering socket with fastening hole; restored and conserved. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the family collection of a South East London collector; formerly acquired in the late 1950s.
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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Aramaic Inscribed Bronze Arrowhead
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
Comprising a two-edged lentoid-section leaf-shaped blade and lozenge-section tang; each side with a short incised Aramaic inscription. 14 grams, 94 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Viking Age Iron Axehead
10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
With flaring triangular-section blade extending to a curved edge, socket with lateral flanges and hammer extension to the rear. 447 grams, 16 cm
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.
The axe seems to be product of Baltic workmanship. The Curonians were known as fierce warriors and sailors who were involved in several wars and alliances with the Swedish, Danish and Icelandic Vikings. Baltic tribes created an original and impressive set of weaponry. They included battle knives, battle axes and spears and javelins with medium sized heads of a characteristic shape. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Piriform body with domed mouth, impressed linear decoration on the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 564 grams, 14.1 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.
