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LOT 1367
Western Asiatic Bronze Sword Sheath
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
22 in. (355 grams, 56 cm).
Triangular in plan, terminating in an exaggerated curving point; the outer face pierced towards the top and with a raised midrib; the convex interior possibly containing fragmentary remains of a weapon.
ProvenanceFrom a Japanese collection, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Moorey, P., Catalogue of Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1971, no.60, for a sword contained in a similar sheath.
FootnotesScabbards with a curve at their base are shown on reliefs and seals from Anatolia from the middle of the second millennium to the 9th century B.C.
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North-West Persian Bronze Short Sword with Mushroom Pommel
Late 2nd-early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
The hilt with conical openwork hollow-cast pommel, grip decorated with horizontal grooves and twisted zig-zag pattern, crescentic guard decorated with waves, long blade with ridged mid-grip. 613 grams, 58.5 cm
Kuizenga collection, the Netherlands, acquired in Utrecht 21 December 1977. with Bonhams, London, 7 December 2023, no.154.
This category of swords has been classified by Khorasani as 'swords with a mushroom pommel' and are usually characterised by a solid-cast hilt with a penannular guard, a ribbed or variously decorated grip and the conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel. Usually the blade is multi-fullered and tapers to a sharp tip. Moorey considers them to be from the end of the 2nd millennium B.C. -
Viking Age Bearded Iron Axehead
11th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
With broad curved blade and pointed chin, broad neck, deep socket with lateral flanges. 698 grams, 15.5 cm
From the collection of a Californian, USA, gentleman, dating back to the late 1960s.
During the mid 13th century, the axes were favourite weapons among Baltic people. For instance the Curonian army included lightly armed soldiers who fought with spears, shields, fighting knives and axes. A heavily armed soldier could also carry a sword, a helmet, a shield and a wide-bladed axe. -
Viking Peterson Type X Sword with Inlaid Hilt
Circa 10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
With pattern-welded double-edged blade, showing well-defined shallow fullers and wide cutting edges, the fullers occupying not less than one third of the entire width and running to a point about 19 cm from the tip; massive, simply decorated hilt; the pommel, as well as the cross-guard, with visible zig-zag patterns; the pommel of solid tea-cosy type, divided into two sections by a well marked groove, the bottom being the larger, the curved top portion of the pommel further divided into three lobes; traces of inlay visible on the pommel and on the cross-guard. 1.25 kg, 94 cm
Acquired on the European art market in the 1990s. From the property of a Suffolk collector.
The blade shows in its central section, and on both cutting edges, the blodiձa style pattern-welding through the central portion of the blade (Oakeshott, 1960, fig.70). The fine pattern-welded blade patterns of Viking swords are the blodiձa (Blood-Eddy) and 'ann' (rows of mown hay) known from Norse poetry.
