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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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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Bulbous body with domed mouth, impressed lozenges and dots to the upper body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 354 grams, 10.3 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 Danish Iron Broad Axehead
Late 10th-early 11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
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. 245 grams, 13.6 cm
Fair condition.
Private 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.
The 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. -
Anglo-Saxon Iron Shield Boss Pair
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising: ferrous shield boss of Härke & Dickinson's Type 1 with shallow sidewall with carination and low domed cone; tall apex stud with flange; outer flange almost absent; another of Härke & Dickinson's Type 3 with deep sidewall with pronounced carination, domed cone; tall apex stud with flange; outer flange absent. 457 grams total, 11.5-13.2 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.