129 - A CELTIBERIAN IRON DAGGER WITH A BRONZE SCABBARD, 3RD-2ND CENTURY BC

A CELTIBERIAN IRON DAGGER WITH A BRONZE SCABBARD, 3RD-2ND CENTURY BC The dagger of pointed form, set with a thin handle that terminates in an oval fitting surmounted by three knobs. The bronze sheath embossed with fine dots and lines forming two panels enclosing an S-shape emblem within geometric bands. The sides flanked by a pair loops suspending two decorative pendants. Provenance: Bruno Cooper Works of Art, Norwich, United Kingdom, 2004. Collection of Paolo Bertuzzi, acquired from the above. A copy of the signed invoice from Bruno Cooper, dated 15 December 2004, attributing the present lot to the Imperial period, Roman Empire, dating it 1 st century, and stating a purchase price for the present lot of GBP 4,000 or approx. EUR 8,600 (converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing), accompanies this lot. Paolo Bertuzzi (1943-2022) was a fashion stylist from Bologna. He was the son of Enrichetta Bertuzzi, founder of Hettabretz, a noted Italian fashion company with customers such as the Rothschild family, Audrey Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor. Paolo Bertuzzi later took over his mother’s business and designed exclusive pieces, some of which were exhibited in the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. He was also an avid collector of antiques for more than sixty years. His collection includes both archaic and contemporary art, and he edited two important books about Asian art, Goa Made - An Archaeological Discovery, about a large-scale archaeological project carried out with the Italian and Indonesian governments, and Majapahit, Masterpieces from a Forgotten Kingdom. Condition: Good condition with expected wear, signs of weathering and erosion, warping, corrosion to the iron elements, some losses, and few tears. Weight: 206 g Dimensions: Length 25.9 cm (the dagger) With a padded storage box. (2) The Celtiberian dagger was an important weapon of the warrior cultures of the Iberian Peninsula during the centuries preceding the Roman conquest. Intended for close-quarters combat, it also served as a symbol of martial status and personal prestige. The distinctive dagger traditions of the Celtiberians and other peoples of northern Iberia played an important role in the development of the Roman pugio, which was subsequently adopted as a standard sidearm of the Roman soldier. By the Imperial period, elaborately decorated pugiones were also worn as symbols of rank and status. The weapon eventually acquired a darker association in Roman history through its use in political assassination and suicide, most famously in the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. Literature comparison: Compare a related pugio, dated 2 nd century, in the Museum Carnuntum. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie’s New York, 8 October 2024, lot 45 Price: USD 37,800 or approx. EUR 35,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A roman iron pugio and scabbard with bronze insets, circa 150-250 A.D. Expert remark: Compare the similar form, and fine decorations. Note the size (36 cm).