Western Asiatic Dagger with Integral Hilt

A substantial silver archer's ring comprising a hoop with reserved triangular ornament on the edges and triangular plaque with foliage motifs, raised central panel with frond motif. 22.61 grams, 34.77 mm overall, 25.16 mm internal diameter



Acquire in the 1990s. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Archer rings in Late Byzantium and the medieval Balkans were connected with the employment of the powerful composite bow, but very often, in 14th century, they were rank symbol for aristocratic noblemen. Archaeological findings of archers’ rings originate mainly from fortified towns, including mining centres. Many were made in bone, simple in design and undecorated. In contrast, the ones made in bronze and silver were usually decorated in rather uniform style, consisting of floral motifs on the head, mostly tulip and foliage, and linear motifs around the edges. This decoration combined Turkish, Central European and Eastern Roman traditional patterns.

A bronze axe with plain cylindrical socket and staff, off-set at the base, of simple undecorated shape with a long lentoid-section D-shaped blade with scooped profile. 465 grams, 18 cm

Fine condition, regular patina on the surface.

Earlier 20th century collection. London Mayfair gallery, UK. Dr D.G. collection, 1990s-2019.

Many examples of bronze axeheads are attributed to the Luristan culture and various shapes have been discussed by different scholars. Moorey (1971, pp.39-41) shows similar axeheads, stating that the texts executed on some specimens have shown them made of arsenical bronze, and attributes them to the late 3rd millennium B.C. or 2nd millennium B.C., period in which this alloy was used abundantly.

A copper-alloy war-hammer composed of ellipsoidal socket, waisted butt with shallow conical face and tapering, lozenge-section head, inlaid with a silver 'net' design. 453 grams, 18.5 cm



Private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, 1990s. Property of a London businessman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11203-186235.

The name obuch is Polish and means 'the blind end of an axe', but already at the beginning of the 15th century it meant a [unspecified] war hammer. According to Polish sources of 17th century, the war-hammer could have been formed into the shape of an axe (czekan), or in the form of a thick, slightly sloping spike (nadziak), or curved like a round cracknel (obuch). A 17th century description states: 'It was a terrible instrument in the hand of a Pole...With the sabre one could cut off somebody’s hand, cut the face, injure the head, and the running blood of the adversary would calm down the rancour. But with the obuch one could cause a deadly wound without even seeing the blood, and – not seeing it – he would not calm down instantly, but would strike several times without cutting the skin, breaking ribs and bones at the same time.'