Roman Sword - Spatha / Semispatha / Paraspatha

[Jack Loomes]

Circa 3rd-4th Century A.D. The sword with a long iron double-edged blade, of slightly curving cross-section, with squared shoulders and a tapering point, the hilt tang surmounted by a bronze eagle-headed pommel, with incised details of the eyes and feathers, the blade with remnants of the openwork bronze scabbard, the upper section decorated with lines of ring-dot motifs and an openwork panel of lozenges, tapering to a point, the lower section of rectangular form with similar ring-dot decoration and openwork lozenges, 27¾in (70.5cm) long; and nine accompanying bronze fittings with similar ring-dot motifs, including seven discoid attachments of various sizes, one square, and another with a rounded top and pointed base, each with attachment tangs or loops behind, 3½in (8.3cm) longest (10)

Sold for £9,000 (AU$ 15,377) inc. premium

Provenance: Ex private Yorkshire collection. Acquired by the present owner in 2001.

Source: www.bonhams.com/