Ritually 'Killed' Sword and Other Weapon Group

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TimeLine Auctions London Mayfair Sale

By TimeLine Auctions Limited

Nov 23, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-11-23 05:00:00 2018-11-23 05:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : TimeLine Auctions London Mayfair Sale https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/timeline-auctions-limited/timeline-auctions-london-mayfair-sale-3572
Auction Venue: The May Fair Hotel London Stratton Street Mayfair London, W1J 8LT Viewing from noon Thursday 22nd Nov. 2018 Champagne Reception: 6pm - 9pm Friday 23rd Nov. 2018 (Day 1) 10am : Lots 1 - 660 TimeLine Auctions Limited enquiries@timelineauctions.com

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• Lot Description
  7th century AD. A group of iron items from a double-burial comprising: a sword blade, parallel-sided with rounded tip, flat tang, three shallow fullers to each face, bent over in three places; a shield boss with carinated body, broad flange with attachment hole, spike to the centre; shield grip with curved handle, flared ends pierced to accept attachment rivets; a small lozengiform spearhead with closed socket and midrib; an angon head, tubular and tapering with collar to the mouth, blade stepped at the shoulder, lozenge-section tip; a single spur with U-shaped plate, knopped finials, biconical spike; sold with two latch lifters, each with a suspension loop, one T-shaped with returned ends, the other w-shaped. See Fuchs, K. et al. Die Alamannen, Stuttgart, 1997 for discussion of male and female grave assemblages of this period. For the stepped spearhead, cf. Kessler, P.T. Merowingisches Fürstengrab von Planig in Rheinhessen Mainzer Zeitschrift XXXV, 1940. 1.9 kg total, sword: 24cm (folded, 67cm overall approx.) (9 1/2"). From the family collection of a London gentleman; formed in the late 1940s-1950s; thence by descent. The latch lifters are typical of female grave assemblages (along with brooches, beads, buckles and other items of personal adornment"). The other items form the equipment of a male warrior of some wealth, armed with a slashing sword, a thrusting spear and smaller throwing spear, and a substantial shield. His use of a horse in war is suggested by the presence of the spur in the assemblage. The absence of small items such as buckles is unusual. The sword was put beyond use by folding it carefully before deposition, ritually 'killed' so that its useful life was finished. The shield boss with its spike and carination are typical of the 6th-7th centuries, a style which was largely discontinued by the Carolingian period (and the Viking period in Scandinavia"). [8, No Reserve]

  Condition

  Fine condition.
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