MINER'S AXE Saxon, beginning of the 18th century. Elongated trapezoidal blade with a pointed extension, and piercings, mark "CK". Canted socket, with small 'hammer extension'. Brown wooden shaft with engraved bone and horn inlays, decoration: medallions with miners, praying men, ornaments, flowers, and a crucifix on the back of the shaft. The bone end-piece of the shaft is engraved with the Saxon coat-of-arms, miners' coat-of-arms with crossed picks, ornaments, and the owner's initials. L 86.5 cm. A rare "ceremonial axe" used by Saxon miners; cf. René Géroudet: Notes sur les haches des mineurs saxons, Armes anciennes 5, 1955, pp.103-108. Heribert Seitz: Blankwaffen II, Ills. 247 and 248. * The full tax is charged on this item marked * in the auction catalogue, i.e. VAT is charged on the sum of the bid price plus the surcharge for those items. The VAT will be refunded to Purchasers providing a validly stamped export declaration.