A Rare 19th Century King's Knife of the Zande or the Mengbetu People, A Trombash Power Authority Knife

A long Knife consisting of a short cylindrical wooden handle, round in section, with a flat end bound in iron banding at the pommel end. The other end of this is cut flat, and has a smaller cylindrical body as the middle hand grip section. Above this point, the handle connects with the blade tang. Which goes through the handle, the tang has been inserted through the centre of the handle, and then its rectangular end hammered over at the top to fix it in place. This is end is visible where it emerges through the handle top, and is off centre. The narrower part of the handle have been decorated with an iron binding strip. Both binding strips [top and bottom] have their ends hammered into slots in the wood to secure them. The blade is curved, with a broad flat ridge running along the length on both sides. This is not centred. On one side of the ridge, the blade extends to form a broad, sharpened base edge with a pointed corner; a more narrow blade extends from the other side of this, slightly higher up the knife. The sides then begin to taper in towards the point at the other end. Both edges were once sharpened. The object is complete, with some minor cut marks on the blade and handle.

Very similar to a Mengbetu collected by Robert Grenville Gayer-Anderson in the Bahr el Ghazal region, probably between 1909 and 1914, in the period immediately before World War I. At the time this object was collected, the Bahr el Ghazal province was much larger than it is today, extending from roughly the Bahr el Arab all the way to the border with the Belgian Congo; this area is now divided into the districts of Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and parts of Warab, El Buheyrat and Western Equatoria. The drawing in the gallery is a 19th century depiction of Munza, the king of the Mangbetu. Seated on his throne, he holds a similar knife to ours as a symbol of power and authority.  read more

Code: 19166

A Fine & Beautiful Antique Fijian Ula Throwing Club. A Singularly Beautiful Example & of Exceptional Rarity

A handsomely hand carved hardwood throwing club "ula" showing a stunning natural, age patina. With fine globed assymetrical head with top knob, and geometric carved patterning on the haft. It is perhaps the most famous and recognizable of all oceanic weapons. The ula was the most personal weapon of the Fijian warrior and was inserted into a man's fibre girdle sometimes in pairs like pistols. The throwing of the ula was achieved with great skill, precision and speed. It was often carried in conjunction with a heavier full length club or spear which served to finish an opponent after initially being disabled by a blow from the ula. Was made by a specialist from a variety of uprooted bushes or shrubs. Across 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) from east to west, Fiji has been a nation of many languages. Fiji's history was one of settlement but also of mobility. Over the centuries, a unique Fijian culture developed. Constant warfare and cannibalism between warring tribes were quite rampant and very much part of everyday life. During the 19th century, Ratu Udre Udre is said to have consumed 872 people and to have made a pile of stones to record his achievement."Ceremonial occasions saw freshly killed corpses piled up for eating. 'Eat me!' was a proper ritual greeting from a commoner to a chief. The posts that supported the chief's house or the priest's temple would have sacrificed bodies buried underneath them, with the rationale that the spirit of the ritually sacrificed person would invoke the gods to help support the structure, and "men were sacrificed whenever posts had to be renewed" . Also, when a new boat, or drua, was launched, if it was not hauled over men as rollers, crushing them to death, "it would not be expected to float long" . Fijians today regard those times as "na gauna ni tevoro" (time of the devil). The ferocity of the cannibal lifestyle deterred European sailors from going near Fijian waters, giving Fiji the name Cannibal Isles; as a result, Fiji remained unknown to the rest of the world. Approx 13 inches long  read more

Code: 22806

A Very Rare Collector’s Piece From One of the Most Significant National Hero State Events in the 19th Century. Original Part From The Duke of Wellington's Funeral Carriage

Attended by an estimated at the time, 1.5 million people, and this was when the population of the country was almost a quarter what it is today.
From one of the original foundrys [Taylors Works] that cast the wheels. This is an original spare wheel support made for the magnificent 18 ton funeral carriage. The Duke lay in state in Chelsea Hospital for two days, during which thousands of mourners including the Queen paid their respects. His funeral took place on 18 November when the funeral processed from Horse Guards to St Paul's, Wellington's remains borne in a huge funeral carriage weighing over 18 tons, and that is now on public display at Stratfield Saye. Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (1 May 1769 ? 14 September 1852), was a British soldier and statesman, a native of Ireland from the Anglo-Irish Ascendancy, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century. His importance in national history is such that he is often referred to as "the Duke of Wellington" instead of "the 1st Duke of Wellington" (overshadowing the heirs to his dukedom including the current duke ? see Dukes of Wellington).

Wellesley was commissioned as an ensign in the British Army in 1787. Serving in Ireland as aide-de-camp to two successive Lords Lieutenant of Ireland he was also elected as a Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons. A colonel by 1796, Wellesley saw action in the Netherlands and in India, where he fought in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War at the Battle of Seringapatam. He was appointed governor of Seringapatam and Mysore in 1799 and as a newly appointed major-general won a decisive victory over the Maratha Confederacy at the Battle of Assaye in 1803.

Wellesley rose to prominence as a general during the Peninsular campaign of the Napoleonic Wars, and was promoted to the rank of field marshal after leading the allied forces to victory against the French at the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. Following Napoleon's exile in 1814, he served as the ambassador to France and was granted a dukedom. During the Hundred Days in 1815, he commanded the allied army which, together with a Prussian army under Bl?cher, defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. Wellesley's battle record is exemplary, ultimately participating in some 60 battles during the course of his military career.

Wellesley is famous for his adaptive defensive style of warfare, resulting in several victories against a numerically superior force while minimising his own losses. He is regarded as one of the greatest defensive commanders of all time, and many of his tactics and battle plans are still studied in military academies around the world

The Duke of Wellington is one of only a handful of non-royals to have been accorded a state funeral. This carriage or ?car? was made for the occasion.Included in it's construction were over ten tons of bronze cannon captured at Waterloo and six foundries employed over a hundred men for eighteen days to make it.

The resulting creation measured twenty seven feet in length, ten feet wide and seventeen feet high. A canopy of silk and silver hung from four halberds above the main structure. It required twelve horses to pull it.

The car proved to be the most controversial feature of Wellington?s funeral on 18 November 1852. Prince Albert, who oversaw the project, decreed that it should be ?a symbol of English military strength and statesmanship.? His wife loved it. Lord Hardinge, the Duke?s successor as commander-in-chief, reckoned it ?a beautiful specimen of art.?

It did not help that one of the carriage?s six wheels got stuck in The Mall during the elaborate funeral procession. About sixty policemen were needed to free it. Worse, when it reached St Paul?s Cathedral, its mechanism failed. It took over an hour for the Duke?s coffin to be conveyed inside. The car then found a home in the crypt of St Paul?s until it was transferred to Stratfield Saye in 1981.

Despite such shortcomings, Wellington?s funeral was one of the great British state occasions of the nineteenth century. An estimated million and a half people converged on the procession route. The general feeling was that the passing of the hero of Waterloo marked the close of an era. Tennyson went even further, declaring that ?the last great Englishman is low.? Certainly there was nothing to compare to it until Sir Winston Churchill?s funeral in 1965. The spoke weighs around 6.5 kilos. Of heavy metal construction  read more

Code: 22855

A Superb, Heavy Grade, Original Viking Throwing Axe, Around 1200 Years Old. A Superb Opportunity to Own An Original Artefact From One of The Great Periods Of History.

Especially today with so many representations and depictions of the the great Viking age and peoples being created into films and documentaries currently. The interest in original Viking artefacts has never been greater than it is today. In our Brighton gallery almost all of our daily thousands of visitors make a beeline to all our amazing original Viking pieces, the interest is literally unceasing. Many are spellbound by their historical significance and almost all are surprised to be able to view up close, let alone acquire, such amazing pieces. And this fine example is one of the least expensive pieces we can offer currently, bearing in mind original Viking arms and armour we can show and have had recently, can easily approach up to around £40,000 each.

Viking Arched Axehead made and used from the 9th, and in use up to the 12th century AD.

An iron axehead with circular socket, narrow blade with curved edge. For reference of type see; Cf. Sedov, B.B. Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, 1987, table CXXIV 7".

Weight 865 grams, 17cm (6 3/4").

One of the most famous Viking axes is Helm (named after the Norse death goddess), which belonged to King Magnus of Norway and Denmark. He is said to have inherited the weapon from his father, Olav Haraldsson of Norway, whose ax features prominently in Norway’s national coat of arms. Some Viking axes if they were wielded by a particularly strong and skilled warrior could even cut through chainmail and helmets. When King Magnus’s poet credited the king with being able to split heads like firewood, he wasn’t necessarily being hyperbolic. Writing about the pre-Viking Franks and their use of throwing axes, the Francisca, Procopius makes it clear that the Franks threw their axes immediately before hand to hand combat with the purpose of breaking shields and disrupting the enemy line while possibly wounding or killing an enemy warrior. The weight of the head and length of the haft would allow the axe to be thrown with considerable momentum to an effective range of about 12 m (40 ft). Even if the edge of the blade were not to strike the target, the weight of the iron head could cause injury. The francisca also had a psychological effect, in that, on the throwing of the francisca, the enemy might turn and run in the fear that another volley was coming. It is most logical that the Vikings may well have adopted this system of axe throwing combat from the earlier Franks, as it seemed most effective in numerous combat arenas. Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today in even a relatively fair state of surface preservation and condition after over 1000 years, but almost all though are not in any better condition than this beauty.  read more

Code: 22008

An Incredibly Rare British Celtic Iron Age ‘Currency’ Sword-Bar Circa 200 BC. Made Over a Century Before the Roman Conquest, But Amazingly its Very Type Was Noted in Caeser's Writings of His time In Britannia

According to the British Museum, who have an extremely similar example, there are only a few hundred remaining in existence today in the world. All of those that have been discovered, have been uncovered from famous hordes or individual finds, usually in South Central England within the past 200 years or so.

From the ex-museum labelling on its display mounting board, this currency bar is from the Spetisbury Hoard, the Iron Age hill Fort, at Spetisbury Rings excavated in 1857. It is acknowledged that this incredible and significant piece is one of the earliest examples of ancient British currency, it is thought currency bars in the form of swords are actually the very first form of currency used in the British Isles 2,200 years ago, used to barter and trade all manner of goods, and highly prized as of exceptional value at the time. It is a form of currency that is actually mentioned in Julius Caeser's writings, following Julius Caesar's expeditions to the island of Britannia in 55 and 54 BC. An Iron Age Celtic 'Spetisbury Hoard' Sword-Shaped Currency Bar, 2nd-1st century BC. It is further believed by some that they were in the form of a sword as they were once originally a sword, but retired from combat.

A substantial long iron currency bar in the shape of a sword with the original short folded-over handle to one end; displayed in an old custom-made box housing with a recently added base and bearing old typescript 'CELTIC IRON CURRENCY BAR 2nd-1st Cent B C / See Caesar's 'De Bello Gallico' V, 12 / Circulated s. and w. Britain / Ex Snettisbury [sic] Dorset Hoard' label in four lines with inked correction to Spetisbury. 1.39 kg, 75cm including case (29 1/2"). Fair condition, held in an old museum display case with identification label.
Provenance
Ex Spetisbury, Dorset, UK, hoard, found 1857; accompanied by a copy of the Archaeological Journal 96, pp.114-131, which includes details for the find.
Literature for reference.
See Gresham, Colin A., Spetisbury Rings, Dorset, Archaeological Journal 96, pp.114-131, which includes details for this and other finds from the site; see also Smith, Reginald, Currency Bars, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, London, 2nd Series, XX, p.182 for comparison between the Spetisbury and Malvern examples; cf. British Museum, accession no.1862,0627.18 for an example from the site (acquired from J. Y. Akerman in 1862; other items were acquired in 1892 from the Durdan, Blandford collection). The name Brittannia was predominantly used to refer simply to the island of Great Britain. After the Roman conquest under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43, it came to be used to refer to the Roman province of Britain (later two provinces), which at one stage consist of part of the island of Great Britain south of Hadrian's wall. Almost every weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today still in a good state and condition.

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 23228

A WW1 British Rifle Brigade or King's Royal Rifle Corps Officer's Combat Sword

Stout basket in steel with traditional strung bugle and strong powerful combat weight blade. the pattern of sword used in both wars by both branches of the Light Infantry rifles regiments. the rifle Brigade and The King's Royal Rifle Corps, that was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known as 'The French and Indian War.' Subsequently numbered the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire. In the First World War
the history in WW1 and WW2 of the KRRC

The 1st Battalion landed at Rouen as part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It saw action at the Battle of Mons in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne and the First Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 and First Battle of Ypres in October 1914. It fought at the Battle of Festubert in May 1915, the Battle of Loos in September 1915 and the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 before taking part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras in November 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917, the Second Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1918 and the Battle of the Selle in October 1918.
The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.
The 3rd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.

The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 but moved to Salonika in November 1915 before returning to France in June 1918.
New armies
The 7th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915, the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and the Battle of Flers Courcelette in September 1916 as well as the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Langemark in August 1917, the First Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 and the Second Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 before taking part in the Battle of St Quentin in March 1918 and the Battle of the Avre in April 1918.

The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th Battalion. The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 42nd Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions.

The 10th (Service) Battalion and 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 59th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916, the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and the Battle of Guillemont in September 1916 as well as the Battle of Flers Courcelette in September 1916, the Battle of Morval in September 1916 and the Battle of Le Transloy in October 1916 before taking part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917, the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.

The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 60th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th Battalions. The 13th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 111th Brigade in the 37th Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Morval in September 1916, the advance to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Arras in April 1917 as well as the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 and the Hundred Days Offensive in Autumn 1918 before taking part in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy.
Seven members of the regiment received the Victoria Cross. complete with its regulation field service leather combat scabbard  read more

Code: 21338

Stunning & Very Rare Kings Royal Rifles Corps Officer's 'Battle Honour Blade' Presentation, Combined Combat and Dress Sword

With KRR battle honour embellished blade up to 1918. Made in 1931 by Wilkinson Sword Co. and used by an officer in the KRRC through WW2. It is very rare to find a KRRC Battle Honour presentation pattern sword, in fact this is the first we have seen in over 20 years.

The King's Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known as 'The French and Indian War.' Subsequently numbered the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire. In the First World War

The 1st Battalion landed at Rouen as part of the 6th Brigade in the 2nd Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It saw action at the Battle of Mons in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne and the First Battle of the Aisne in September 1914 and First Battle of Ypres in October 1914. It fought at the Battle of Festubert in May 1915, the Battle of Loos in September 1915 and the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916 before taking part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras in November 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917, the Second Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1918 and the Battle of the Selle in October 1918.
The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 2nd Brigade in the 1st Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.
The 3rd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915.

The 4th Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 80th Brigade in the 27th Division in December 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 but moved to Salonika in November 1915 before returning to France in June 1918.
New armies
The 7th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front and saw action the Second Battle of Ypres in May 1915, the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and the Battle of Flers Courcelette in September 1916 as well as the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the Battle of Langemark in August 1917, the First Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917 and the Second Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 before taking part in the Battle of St Quentin in March 1918 and the Battle of the Avre in April 1918.

The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 41st Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th Battalion. The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 42nd Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division in May 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 7th and 8th battalions.

The 10th (Service) Battalion and 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 59th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916, the Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916 and the Battle of Guillemont in September 1916 as well as the Battle of Flers Courcelette in September 1916, the Battle of Morval in September 1916 and the Battle of Le Transloy in October 1916 before taking part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917, the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge in September 1917, the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.

The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 60th Brigade in the 20th (Light) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action most of the same battles as the 10th and 11th Battalions. The 13th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 111th Brigade in the 37th Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front and saw action at the Battle of Morval in September 1916, the advance to the Hindenburg Line and the Battle of Arras in April 1917 as well as the Battle of Passchendaele in Autumn 1917, the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917 and the Hundred Days Offensive in Autumn 1918 before taking part in the Battles of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Picardy.
Seven members of the regiment received the Victoria Cross. Complete with its field service leather scabbard  read more

Code: 22171

An 18th Century Highly Decorated North West Frontier Jazail, With The Iconic Recurved Butt Stock & Elaborate Inlaid Decor

With a long Damascus twist barrel and a captured British EIC flintlock. Formerly this type of elaborately decorated long gun were the weapons of regional tribal warlords in the 18th and early 19th century. A very fine, attractive and incredibly significant historical example of a North West Frontier Afghan War long gun known as a Jazail. With a highly distinctive recurved butt. Likely Damascus steel twist barrel. The ordnance inspected lock was captured from an East India Co. musket. It has the EIC mark of the lion, plus probably traces of an ordnance inspector stamp number. The gunlock and it's maker is a most interesting historical aspect of this intriguing gun, it appears by the remaining surface it may have been made by Hirst of London. Hirst had his business based in Little Tower Hill, London, and he was a contractor to the Ordnance and the East India Co. His specialism was rare breech loading rifles, with screw mounted breeches, and wall mounted pivot guns with large flintlock mechanisms, just as this one is. Jazails very often had captured British made locks, as their domestically made locks were often very basic matchlock types. The Jazail was used by the notorious North West Frontier tribesmen, in the 18th century, during the era of what was called The Great Game. The period when the British control of India was expanding, yet under considerable and constant threat by Russia, and it's attempted conspiracies in order to influence discord among the Indian populace for their own advantages, ‘plus ?ca change, plus c'est la meme chose’ . Rudyard Kipling's novel Kim was based around this very geo political situation, and a most informative, accurate, and yet ripping tale that it is too. It would have also been used in the Ist Afghan War in the 1830's, in many ways the first major conflict of what became known as " The Great Game". The reasons for the British invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in the late 1830s are many and varied. They mainly revolve around what one of the 'victims' of the event referred to as 'the Great Game'. This was the name given by Arthur Conolly to denote the shadow boxing between Russia and Britain for influence in Central Asia for much of the 19th Century. Relations between Russia and Britain were strained in the 1830s as the British feared the expansionist and strong armed tactics of Tsar Nicholas I who came to the throne in 1825. He sought a policy that expanded Russian influence southwards and eastwards. This was bringing Russian influence towards Britain's own 'Jewel in the Crown' India. India was still ruled by the East India Company, although the British government had constrained much of the company's freedom to act by this time and was ultimately guiding its policy on the wider international scene. The British were particularly concerned at Russian influence in Persia. They had heard reports that the Russians were helping the Shah of Persia beseige Herat on the western side of Afghanistan. If successful in taking this city, Russian influence would advance along the route that they would take if they were to invade India at any point in the future. But British alarm bells really began to ring when a rumour circulated that a Russian had arrived at the court of Dost Mohammed in Kabul. If this was true, then it was believed that Russian influence might extend to the borders of India itself. Steeped in classical education, most British decision makers knew the invasion route of India taken by Alexander the Great and assumed that the Russians would soon have the capability to make a similar incursion. As with all our antique guns no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables Rudyard Kipling's poem of the Afghan War refers to the feared deadly accuracy of the Jazail, and it goes; "A scrimmage in a Border Station
A canter down some dark defile
Two thousand pounds of education
Drops to a ten-rupee jezail". Frizzen lacking on the lock, action weak. As with all our antique guns, no license is required as they are all unrestricted antique collectables  read more

Code: 22931

Original & Rare Anglo-Saxon Spear from The Era of King Offa to King Harold, & What is Very Rare, With It’s Original Scabbard It May Be The Very First Original Scabbard Still present We Have Ever Seen in 50 Years.

Viking and Anglo Saxon history is now at the forefront of interest today, especially with so many representations and depictions of the the great Viking age and often their British enemies the Anglo Saxon peoples being created into films and documentaries currently.

The interest in original Viking artefacts, and weapons of their natural foes, has never been greater than it is today. In our Brighton gallery almost all of our daily thousands of visitors make a beeline to all our amazing original Viking pieces, the interest is literally unceasing. Many are spellbound by their historical significance and almost all are surprised to be able to view up close, let alone acquire, such amazing pieces. And this fine example is one of the least expensive pieces of its type we can offer currently, and probably one of the very rarest, bearing in mind original Viking and Anglo Saxon arms and armour we can show and have had recently, can easily approach up to around £40,000 each.

Used by Anglo Saxon warriors from the 6th century to the 11th century Norman Conquest of 1066. This ancient spear, remarkably, also has part of its original iron scabbard, with traces of line engraving at the throat, and it is the very first spear scabbard we have ever seen to survive. it would have had a small leather top attachment. The spear has matching line engraving at the socket opening. The main weapon the Anglo-Saxons used during war were their spears. They were usually leaf or kite shaped and had a socket for the attachment of the staff. The usual length of the spear was 6’6”- 8’ (2.00m-2.50m). Spears were used for both hand to hand combat and as Javelins. Anglo-Saxons burials that contained weapons 86% of the time had spears in them. There were also 21 different types of spears the Anglo-Saxons used during war. The group of tribes known by the three names Saxons, Angles, and Jutes all belonged to the Teutonic stock; the Jutes perhaps being nearer akin to the Gothic and Scandinavian branch than to the German. It is doubtful whether there was any real distinction between Angles and Saxons other than the designation of the territory from which they started. The king's power
One of these customs was fighting everyone in sight. A king's power was not hereditary; it depended solely on his ability to win battles and so gain land, treasure, and slaves to give his supporters. He was obliged to fight and keep fighting. If not, he would find himself out of a job or deprived of his life, or both. Succession from father to son was never a foregone conclusion. Any relative of the old king who could muster enough support could make a bid for the throne. This helps to explain why the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms came and went so quickly. The power of any kingdom over its neighbours was only as solid as the strength of its king in battle.

King Offa
Roughly speaking, the 7th century was the age of Northumbrian ascendance, with Mercia playing second fiddle. In the 8th century these roles reversed. The most powerful and well known of the Mercian kings was Offa, who ruled from 758-796. A successful warrior (which is a given for anyone in those days who managed to hold onto power for so long), he defeated kings in Sussex, Anglia, and Wessex, proclaiming himself King of the English. In the 11th century, there were three conquests and some Anglo-Saxon people would live through it: one in the aftermath of the conquest of Cnut in 1016; the second after the unsuccessful attempt of battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066; the third after that of William of Normandy in 1066. The consequences of each conquest can only be assessed with hindsight. In 1016, no-one was to know that whatever cultural ramifications were felt then, they would be subsumed half a century later; and in 1066 there was nothing to predict that the effects of William's conquest would be any greater or more lasting than those of Cnut's. See Swanton, M.J. Spearheads of the Anglo-Saxon Settlements, London, 1973 for discussion. 221 grams,13 inches long overall Almost every iron weapon that has survived today from this era is now in a fully russetted condition, as is this one, because only the swords of kings, that have been preserved in national or Royal collections are today still in a good state and condition.

As with all our items it comes complete with our certificate of authenticity  read more

Code: 22102

A Beautiful Antique Indian Sword Shamshir Shikargar, With An impressive and Scarce 'Nagan' Serpentine Blade

Beautifully artisan hand cleaned and polished, and what has been achieved is once more remarkable. It looks like it did when acquired in the 19th century to come back to England. It has a pistol shaped khanjar style hilt, matching engraved to the blade. A shikargaha hunting sword with exotic flowers engraved and two dancing figures, as used in a typical Moghul hunt, deeply engraved on both sides of the blade, with silver darts inlaid between the back edge engraving. Also with a brass inlaid panel with a dancing figure. Its condition for its age is now very good indeed, and the snake blade form is most beguiling and rarely seen in swords. Likely 19th century but possibly 18th. In the Renaissance period and beyond in Europe serpentine blades were occasionally seen, and they were named a 'flamberge' or flamboyant form blade. Some similar types of the Islamic serpentine bladed swords are in the Imperial collection in the Topkapi Saray Museum in Istanbul, Turkey.
See "Islamic swords and swordsmiths" by Unsal Yucel. A most unusual sword in many ways, not least that it was never actually made nor worn with a scabbard. It was worn through a belt and carried without one, to be used in ceremonies or on the hunting parties. There were five Indian/Nepal swords in the collection and four have the matching ensuite decoration patterning, but all need many many hours of cleaning and conservation so they will be added individually over time and sold seperately.  read more

Code: 22396