Sales catalogue: Sotheby's

Date:
23 July 1930
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/20/860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue: Sotheby's. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    32/102 page 24
    Ghe Property of Signor ©. Bernabo. restorations, 3lin. long. ‘The cylindrical hilt is of polished bone capped by a golden pommel on which are engraved bands of geometric pattern; the guard is horse- shoe-shaped ; it is of gold, has geometric designs engraved upon it, and is clasped to the blade with two bronze rivets, once plated with gold; the mouth of the scabbard and perhaps also the plates of the scabbard itself, which are of bronze, were also once plated with gold, as are the rings of bronze wire by which it was suspended. The scabbard has its edges bound with a heavy strip of gold fastened with golden pins, some of which are missing, and is encircled with two bands of gold, one below the mouth, into which the suspension-rings are stapled, the other where it begins to taper towards the point, both bands are adorned with geometric patterns in graffito and fastened with golden pins; the golden chape of the scabbard repeats the motive of the guard, it is covered with finely hatched geometric patterns and terminates in a ferrule of gold, bound four times with golden wire, and engraved at the bottom with circles. The bronze blade of the sword itself, which is in good preservation, can be seen in places through the scabbard; the weapon belongs to the Early Iron Age, and is not later than the 8th Cent. B.c.; this is one of the finest examples known: see Montelius, “ Civilisation primitive en Italie,” pl. 31, no. 7, p. 174 f. and Naue, “Die vorromischen Schwerter,” pls XXII ff. Found at Lugo, near Bologna, in Italy; this district was one of the chief centres of Villanovan culture. A unique piece, the extreme richness of which is equalled by its archaeological importance [PIl. IV].
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