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LOT 0240
Viking Age Sword with Five-Lobed Pommel
10TH CENTURY A.D.
35 in. (755 grams, 89 cm).
A double-edged sword of Petersen Type L or S variant with straight tapering blade, light traces of pattern-welding and battle-nicks along the blade, tapering fullers and a sturdy long tang; boat-shaped lower guard curving gently towards the blade, decorated with punched ring-and-dot ornament along the edges; the upper guard with Trewhiddle Style ornament, surmounted by an elegant five-lobed pommel decorated with geometric patterns in the same style; cleaned and conserved.
ProvenanceAcquired 1971-1972.
From the collection of the vendor's father.
Property of a London, UK, collector.
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 searcher certificate no.11574-198855.
Cf. Petersen, J., De Norske Vikingsverd, Oslo, 1919; Oakeshott, R.E., Records of the Medieval Sword, London, 2000; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; the sword finds parallels in various similar Viking age specimens of L variant, two very similar swords, both preserved at the British Museum (inv.1848,10-21.1 and 1856,7-1,1404), have been published by Peirce (2002, pp.77-81); however, the pommel is certainly akin to the type S swords, like an example from London (British Museum, accession number 1887,2-9,1, Peirce, 2002, pp.104-105) or a sword in the National Museum in Copenhagen (C16430, Peirce, 2002, pp.106-107).
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AUCTIONS:
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Opening Bid: £50
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
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A ceramic vessel with a piriform body and domed mouth, two incised rings to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 470 grams, 10.2 cm
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Roman Julius Caesar Sling Shot from the Battle of Munda
45 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
A biconical facetted lentoid-section lead sling shot (glans), inscription monogram a combination of letters 'C', 'A' and 'E', for 'C A E S' referring to Julius Caesar. 63.29 grams, 36 mm
Fine condition.
Found near to an important village site, close to Seville, 1960-1970. From an old Spanish collection. Swiss private collection. Accompanied by a copy of the Spanish export licence. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 4th May 2022 and titled 'Roman Res Publica - Lead Slingshots (glandes) of Caesarian Age - 45 B.C circa'.
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