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193 - A Celtic Iron Sword
Starting price
USD 3,500 (€3,127)The reserve price is the minimum price accepted by the seller. Bidders cannot see this price. To win an item, you must place the highest bid and meet or exceed the reserve price.
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Estimation
USD 7,000 - 9,000 (€6,200 - 8,100)Sale fees
A Celtic Iron Sword La Tène Period, Circa 3rd-1st Century B.C. Length 54.5 cm (21 1/2 inches). Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Part of the chape preserved at the tip. Heavily corroded and encrusted throughout, with fine details still visible in select areas. Overall in fair condition. See additional images. Not affixed to stand. Height with stand 57 cm (22 1/2 inches). Provenance: Art Market, Netherlands. Private Collection, Cologne, Germany, acquired in 1996. Ariadne Galleries, New York, 2016 (Art & Adornment: Treasures of Combat, p. 110-111, no. 32). Ritually bent and still retaining its scabbard, this sword reflects a practice seen across Europe from the Bronze Age through the Migration Period, in which weapons were intentionally deformed before deposition. In the Celtic world, the bending of a blade is generally interpreted as a symbolic act of decommissioning, effectively “killing” the weapon and preventing its further use in the afterlife.
Auction details
Antiquities and Ancient ArtAuction house
Freeman's +13 1 22 80 12 12 bid@freemansauction.comDelivery is optional. You can use the carrier of your choice. The stated price does not include the lot price or the auction house fees.