British Bronze Age 'Manston' Palstave Axehead Hoard 1

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TimeLine Auctions - Antiquities Sale - Day 1

By TimeLine Auctions Limited

Feb 26, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-26 05:00:00 2019-02-26 05:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : TimeLine Auctions - Antiquities Sale - Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/timeline-auctions-limited/timeline-auctions---antiquities-sale---day-1-3821
Auction Venue: The May Fair Hotel London Stratton Street Mayfair London, W1J 8LT Viewing from noon Monday 25th February 2019 Champagne Reception: 6pm - 9pm Tuesday 26th February 2019 (Day 1) 10am : Lots 1 - 660 TimeLine Auctions Limited enquiries@timelineauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  Middle Bronze Age, 1400-1150 BC. A single hoard of ten copper-alloy Palstave axeheads, possibly a pit deposit, comprising: (1) Palstave axehead, complete, good condition with visible corrosion of the surface; butt slightly damaged at one corner; flanges rising gradually in a convex curve from the butt, fusing to the stop bar at the maximum height above the septum; body narrow flaring to a triangular blade; cutting edge complete other than small pockets of corrosion, asymmetrical through use and resharpening(?), one blade tip slightly rounded; a small sub-triangular depression below the stop bar. (2) Palstave axehead, complete in two sections, broken below the butt, corrosion on one blade surface; cross-section at the break reveals a U-shaped septum; flanges rising from the butt to the stop bar, parts damaged; butt asymmetrical with one corner irregular due to damage (usage wear?); pitted interior to the blade indicating an area of weakness; casting seams along both sides of the body; blade slightly asymmetrical (usage wear and rounded blade tips?); sub-triangular depression beneath the stop bar to each face, one with a linear depression (ancient damage?"). (3) Palstave axehead, complete, visible surface corrosion; butt slightly rounded, triangular flanges rising from the butt to the stop bar; below the septum a hollow to both faces; narrow body expanding to a triangular blade with slight flare at the tips; cutting edge slightly asymmetrical (excavation damage?) and small hollows to the blade surface and septum (casting flaws?"). (4) Palstave axehead, complete, butt damaged in the centre, flanges rising to the stop bar giving a convex profile; below the stop bar to both faces, a depression with a design comprising three raised lines within a raised shield outline; blade triangular (but tip damaged and corroded) with chips to the cutting edge (ancient damage and/or metal corrosion?"). (5) Palstave axehead, complete, surface corrosion; butt damaged at the centre and one corner absent (ancient damage?); flanges rising in a convex curve towards the stop bar with small depression beneath, sub-triangular in shape to the top of the blade; blade triangular with slight flaring towards the tips; cutting edge straight (wear to the central section?"). (6) Palstave axehead, complete, square butt with flanges rising to the stop bar; body and butt end narrow expanding into a crinoline blade; to each face a blade facet (result of sharpening the cutting edge); cutting edge almost complete, with small areas of damage (probably corrosion?); small sub-triangular depression beneath the stop bar. (7) Palstave axehead, complete, good condition apart from some surface corrosion to lower half of the blade; butt slightly damaged on one corner; flanges rising from the butt to the stop bar, creating a triangular profile; blade triangular with an asymmetrical cutting edge, one tip missing; raised triangular design beneath the stop bar, two raised linear bands with a central depression, applied to both faces. (8) Palstave axehead, complete, butt damaged slightly, flanges rising towards the stop bar with slightly convex profile; beneath the stop bar a sub-triangular indentation to both blade faces; blade flaring towards the tips, cutting edge (some ancient and others from the excavation process) ; blade facet to both sides showing sharpening. (9) Palstave axehead, complete, no damage other than corrosion; butt square with flanges rising to the stop bar, creating a triangular profile; blade triangular flaring slightly towards the tips; below the stop bar a small sub-triangular depression to one face, circular to the other; cutting edge complete apart from some flaking. (10) Palstave axehead, complete, corrosion to the lower half of the blade face; butt square with some damage; flange profile triangular (nicks to the stop bar); casting seam to the flange sides at the butt; blade triangular flaring towards the tips (one absent, damaged in antiquity); cutting edge asymmetrical, resharpened in antiquity; beneath the stop bar a small triangular depression, surrounded by another incised triangular design forming a raised triangle. See Evans, John, The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, pp.76-84 and figs.56-68 for similar types. See Portable Antiquities Scheme, reference PAS KENT-495597 (this find"). 5.3 kg total, 16.5-18cm (6 1/2 - 7"). Found near Manston, Kent, UK, 2016; subsequently returned to the finder in late 2018; accompanied by copies of the British Museum PAS report number KENT-495597, and Treasure Act documentation under Treasure Reference 2016 T618. We understand that the axes have been lightly cleaned by a professional conservator to remove soil only and a coat of incralac lacquer applied to protect the natural patination. [10]

  Condition

  Mainly fine condition. A rare opportunity to acquire a British Bronze Age Hoard with excessively rare decorated examples.
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