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LOT 0262
Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
9TH-11TH CENTURY A.D.
35 1/4 in. (900 grams, 89.5 cm).
Comprising a double-edged cutting blade with tapering fullers and hefty tang; the bronze cross guard in Jellinge style with dragon head finials and a central human face to the lower edge; the pommel with seven lobes; accompanied by a bronze openwork chape with central bird motif decorated with stamped ring-and-dot design. [2]
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.11821-206859.
See Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002; Żabiński, G., ‘Viking Age Swords from Scotland’, in Acta Militaria Mediaevalia III, Kraków, Sanok, 2007, pp.29–84; see a sword in the Musée de l’Armée published by Peirce (2002, pp.70-71), for a similar pommel; cf. Paulsen, P., Schwertortbänder der Wikingerzeit, Stuttgart, 1953, for the chape; see also Michalak, A., Socha, K., ‘A sword scabbard chape with a depiction of a bird of prey from the surroundings of Kostrzyn’ in Slavia Antiqua, 2017, LVIII, pp.159-174, figs.3-4.
FootnotesThe blade of the sword is very similar to Petersen Type K; the hilt is a typical Type K, but having seven rather than five lobes to the pommel. The chape, the parallels of which are mostly of late 10th and early 11th centuries, is probably a later addition, possibly reworked to be fitted to the sword.
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LOT 0262
Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
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Etrusco-Italic Breastplate with Mythical Animal
5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Displaying a repoussé horned animal advancing right, two roundels composed of bulbous rivets flanking the animal and encircling the central design; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 626 grams total, 28.5 cm high including stand
Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, formed between 1950 and 1970. The Schumanns inherited part of their collection from Henriette’s parents, Alice and Fernand Halphen, andjacques’ maternal grandfather, Albert Lehmann. Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, Christie's, Paris, 30th September 2003, lot 85. Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.107322. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11877-207824.
This type of armour, composed from a bronze breast and back plate with hinged shoulder straps, all the parts backed with iron, was used by Etruscans, Hernici, Aequi and Volsci, the feared enemies of early Rome. In particular our item has many parallels with the disc-cuirass (cardiophylax) found in the Necropolis of Alfadena. -
Luristan Bronze Socketted Axe
13th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £90
The cylindrical socket with collared base and upper face of zoomorphic form, possibly representing a gaping snake's mouth; wedge-shaped axehead with convex cutting edge. 271 grams, 14 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Medieval Iron Hand and Half Sword with Polyhedral Pommel
Late 14th-early 15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Of Oakeshott's Type XVIIIa or b, cross style 11, pommel style I1; strongly tapering pointed blade with straight edges and evident battle nicks; straight cross guard, long grip and an octagonal pommel. 1.26 kg, 1 m
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
This magnificent example was well-suited to a cut-and-thrust style of fighting, a logical development of the Oakeshott XVI typology. This is mainly visible in the specimens of typology XVIIIb, typical of English effigies and brasses between 1370-1425. Because the previous types of swords were practically useless against the fully armoured man-at-arms, Western European warfare needed a sword capable of piercing the weak points of the enemy's protective equipment, leading to the development of types XV, XVI and XVII, and eventually of type XVIII. The subtypes XVIIIa and b had a longer blade, and type XVIIIb was a very long-gripped bastard sword. This word (often referred to as ‘hand-and-a-half sword’) was applied through the late Middle Ages to the long-gripped weapons. Marc de Vulson, writing on the occasion of a duel fought in 1549 before Henry II of France, stated 'Deux epées bâtardes, pouvant servir à une main ou à deux' (two bastard swords able to serve with one hand or with two).
