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LOT 1145
Volga Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Mount Group
11TH-12TH CENTURY A.D.
5/8 - 1 in. (31.8 grams total, 17-26 mm).
Comprising: two matching ogival plates with pellet borders; a trefoil plate with border of radiating lines framing three concentric circle and oval motifs; a plate with five lobes decorated with dashed lines and six concentric oval motifs at the centre; ogival plate with scalloped border, trefoil motif at centre; ogival plate with pellet border divided into three 'petals' by larger single pellets, scrolling vegetal motif; a floral style plate composed of discoid dimples; irregular hexagonal plate, the shape repeated at the centre, pellet border; trilobate plate with three single pellets to the perimeter and pellet border; ogival plate with expanded waist, raised 'wings' and rounded lozenge against a background of radiating lines; nine with three attachment lugs to reverse, one with two lugs. [10]
ProvenanceAcquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
Cf. Руденко, К.А., История археологического изучения Волжской Булгарии (X - начало XIII в.), History of the archaeological study of the Volga Bulgarians (10th - beginning of the 13th century, in Russian), Kazan, 2014, figs.179, 759.
FootnotesThe belt fittings find various comparisons with non-ferrous belt appliqués found in the territories of the Volga Bulgars, like specimens from the Semenovsky village. These items were parts of long warrior belts, the leather surfaces decorated all over with such bronze and silver appliqués. Symbols of ranks and elite warrior aristocracy, these belts also served a utilitarian purpose of suspending weapons such as a bow, quiver or a sabre.
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AUCTIONS:
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Georgian Flintlock Brass Blunderbuss with Spring Bayonet
18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Featuring steel flintlock action and spring-hinged triangular section bayonet with sliding retaining catch; the wood stock fitted with brass butt plate, side plate, trigger guard, ramrod mounts and escutcheon; a wood ramrod with brass ram tip and steel screw extractor fitted to underside of barrel; the barrel numbered 'A098' to right side near lock and the bayonet with number '86' at hinge; traces of original blued finish to lock; the lock and bayonet mechanisms in working order. 2.64 kg, 97 cm overall
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
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. -
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Early Georgian Incendiary Iron Cannon Ball
Early 19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Featuring a circular opening to receive fuse and plug to one face; hollow-formed. 3.9 kg, 11 cm diameter
Fine condition.
Acquired after 2000. Property of a Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman.
The shrapnel shell is named after Lieutenant-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), a British officer who devised the hollow, gunpowder-filled ball that was fused to explode either in the air or on the ground with the resulting ball fragments proving to be an effective anti-personnel weapon; later types were filled with lead musket balls and powder to make the weapon even more effective against troops; such projectiles were used both with field artillery cannon and with mortars. -
British Fairbairn-Sykes 'Beaded and Ringed' Commando Dagger in Scabbard
Circa 1942 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
By Rodgers, with finely shaped 15cm stiletto blade with traces of original black finish tapering to a steel oval guard and fitted with a brass 'beaded and ringed' shaped hilt secured by a copper pommel nut; the hilt bearing the War Department 'broad arrow' and '2' marks near to the guard; with the original leather scabbard fitted with brass rivets and chape, pierced for belt wear and with the side flaps for sewing cut away as commonly seen when belt worn; the dagger showing wear with minor chipping to the blade. 254 grams, 33 cm overall
Property of a Luton, UK gentleman, by inheritance.
In the autumn of 1942, the Rodgers firm produced what many consider to be the best of all the wartime Fairbairn-Sykes knives: the 'Beads and Ridges' model (or 'Beaded and Ringed'); so-called for its distinctive grip pattern to the brass hilt of single rings of tiny beads, interspersed between sections of four to seven plain rings. The blade is delicate and uniform, and the weapon, though light, is well balanced. The blade finish was black (as this example) or nickel. All of this type are considered to be at least scarce. According to both Fredrick Stephens and Leroy Thompson the type was a commercial variant for private purchase; however, there are some rare cases of this type which were officially issued with the War Department broad arrow and number marks, as with this example.
