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LOT 0260
Viking Iron Sword with Inlaid Hilt
8TH-10TH CENTURY A.D.
35 1/2 in. (1.05 kg, 90 cm).
Comprising a double-edged tapering blade showing shallow fullers and wide cutting edges; boat-shaped lower guard with inlaid vertical copper bands; the upper guard decorated in similar fashion; five-lobed pommel with deep grooves between the lobes, each lobe inlaid with copper bands.
ProvenanceAcquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.
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.11592-199910.
See Petersen, J., De Norske Vikingsverd, Oslo, 1919; Peirce, I., Swords of the Viking Age, Suffolk, 2002.
FootnotesIt is the decoration and the structure of the sword that suggest classifying it as a type H of Petersen, rather than type R which usually presents a five-lobed pommel. The copper markings are artistically consistent with archaeological examples of decorative work of Viking swords, notably with the one in Suomen Kansallismuseo, Helsinki, published by Peirce (2002, pp.6off.). The decoration, which here takes the form of vertical copper lines, is striped as on the Helsinki specimen.
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Cased 1st Model Tranter 36 Bore Revolver Pair
1853-1854 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
With 19.5cm (8¾") octagonal rifled barrels of 36 bore (marked to front of frame), solid Adams patent frames with foliate engraving marked 'ADAMS PATENT ' and serial numbers 20,368Y and 20,832Y with plain loading lever pins to left side, Tranter double trigger (providing single and double action), London proof marks to 5-shot cylinders and barrels, blued finish; in wood case with two hook latches and lock (no key) with accessories including loading lever (stamped 'TRANTERS PATENT 36), wood cleaning rod with extractor screw and two brass cleaning tips), wood handled turnscrew and nipple key, pewter oil bottle, steel wad cutter (marked CAST STEEL), brass-handled double bullet mould (stamped 'TRANTERS PATENT 36); Dixon powder flask, tin of Eley's Superior caps, tin of Tranter's Lubricating Composition, turned bone container with four spare nipples and three pre-made bullets with felt wads. 5.10 kg total, case 43 x 24 cm
Acquired Brighton dealer, 2020. Property of a Kent collector. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.204131.
The Tranter revolvers based on the Adams solid frame were numbered from 20,000 and have the Y suffix. Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent. -
Medieval Decorated Bronze Macehead Group
14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Each with four large triangular-shaped projections flanked by smaller projections; decorated with groups of ring-and-dot ornaments. 155 grams total, 46 mm each
Private collection, UK, formed in the 1980s. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
The polygonal mace evolved into the hexagonal winged mace. Originating in the East, this weapon spread across Eastern Europe during the 13th century A.D., and from there to the West. The winged mace, used by the western Europeans, was almost certainly based upon Eastern Roman or Islamic prototypes. It is relevant to note that the polygonal mace was widely used by the eastern cavalrymen (like Turkish and Mongols), during the 14th century A.D. -
Luristan Bronze Sword Hilt
2nd millenium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With crescent-shaped guard to accept blade, square-section grip with central rib to two sides and four evenly-spaced studs to the other two, and a conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel pierced on three sides. 492 grams, 16.5 cm
Acquired in the early 1990s. Ex Guernsey collection. The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
