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LOT 1024
Viking Rus Silver-Gilt Sword Belt End Group
10TH CENTURY A.D.
1 1/2 - 2 in. (34 grams total, 37-50 mm).
Comprising four sword belt strap ends of roughly rectangular form, with one rounded or gabled end and one fishtail end, each bearing a different nielloed decorative scheme, comprising: one with split front plate bearing geometric foliage framed by radiating lines to the perimeter; one with pelletted border and medial scrolled bar; one displaying a medial row of circular recesses and surrounding circular motifs; one decorated with five medial circular recesses on a ground of foliate forms, pellet border; all with a set of mounting lugs to the reverse. [4]
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
Cf. Murasheva, V.V., Old Russian belt ornaments, Moscow, 2000, pl.61, for similar types.
FootnotesDuring the medieval period, belts had a range of functions. They girdled the clothes and enabled suspension of small items such as knives, whetstones, purses and leather bags. The decoration of the belt depended on the social status of its owner: peasants wore woven and simple leather straps, whereas feudal lords, prominent warriors, and princes wore golden belts, which were passed down through the generations.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1024
Viking Rus Silver-Gilt Sword Belt End Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
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Viking Age Iron Socketted Spearhead
11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Type N leaf-shaped slender blade, with flattened transition area between blade and socket, continuing far up onto the blade. 255 grams, 39 cm
Ex private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1980s. Acquired from the above, 2004.
The spearheads of type N were a minor group in the Viking spearheads, found throughout the whole of the 10th century A.D. They make up circa 10% of the Viking Age spears. -
Amarlu Bronze Dagger with Bell-shaped Pommel
Late 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
With solid cast hilt, straight horizontal guard with turquoise inlay; plain narrow grip with conical hollow cast mushroom pommel decorated with dots and lines; wide shallow midrib on the blade tapering to a sharp tip. 505 grams, 52 cm
Ex old English collection. London art market, pre 2000. Property of a London, UK, gentleman.
Moorey and Khorasani dated swords with mushroom pommels to the end of the second millennium B.C. The weapon belongs to Category IX of the Khorasani classification, the ones with a mushroom or bell-shaped pommel. A similar example is in the National Museum of Iran, Tehran. -
Roman Praetorian Guard Terracotta Sling Shot with Scorpion
1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Lentoid section with a raised 'keel' to one end, depicting a stylised scorpion. 25.75 grams, 43 mm
Ex Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK, in the 1990s. From a North London collection.
The sling (funda) with its lead (plumbea pondera) and stone missiles was used by special funditores, illustrated on Trajan’s Column where they are dressed in broad tunics with no armour, but carry a shield. Interestingly, this glans has the emblem usually associated with the Praetorian Guard - the scorpion. It was an emblem also used in Ptolemaic Egypt, and it is not impossible that this bullet could be Ptolemaic or Romano-Egyptian. We believe this bullet could be associated with the Praetorian regiments which means this could be one of the first pieces of evidence for their use.
