| 101 A sword with almadin inlays on guard, Black Sea region, 1st half of the 5th century A.D. Blade with a flat-oval cross-section and almost parallel edges, tapering slightly from 4.8 to 4 cm from the top below the guard to the rounded, retracted point. The approximately 1.5 cm wide tang is about 10 cm long, the blade 65.2 cm. A copper pin embedded in the upper part of the tang, protruding approx. 1.5 cm onto the obverse side and with a diamond-shaped, tinned head 3.3 cm long at the top. A complex, hollow guard made of soldered sheet bronze strips, spindle-shaped when viewed from above, is slid onto the tang. At the top a recess for the grip, at the bottom for the upper part of the blade, which was additionally framed with organic material in the interstices. On the obverse side in two horizontal registers, cell work with almandine inlays. Length of the guard 9.3 cm, height 3 cm. The blade with corrosion pitting and chipping at the edges. The guard with inlays in excellent condition. Total length 75.2 cm. Comes with a typical, flat conical amber sword bead pierced in the centre with minor chipping on the underside. Diameter 3.3 cm. Typical ceremonial sword of the Migration Period from the Black Sea region, which served more for representative purposes, as the complex but fragile guard would not have withstood any real stress in battle. For real combat situations, swords with solid forged iron guards were favoured. Provenance: A southern German private collection. From a formerly English private collection (A.B. vor 1972), afterwards from Collection Danielson (acquired from father to son). In 1998 sold to H. F. in England. Then acquired through the art trade and by the current owner. 333308 II € 6.700
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