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Title: Sword (Falcata)

Date: 5th–1st century BCE

Culture: Iberian

Medium: Iron alloy

Dimensions: H. 20 15/16 in. (53.2 cm); H. of blade 17 in. (43.2 cm); W. 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm); D. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm); Wt. 1 lb. 0.7 oz. (473.4 g)

The falcata was a popular type of sword in the Iberian Peninsula from the fifth to the first century B.C. Closely related in form to slashing weapons found in Greece, it is distinguished by the fact that its blade is double-edged for about half of its length, whereas Greek specimens normally have a single cutting edge.

Although its old patina was removed and an inaccurate modern wood grip was added sometime before it was acquired, The Metropolitan Museum's falcata occupies an important place among the examples known to survive because of the otherwise fine state of preservation of its blade, which is structurally intact and only superficially corroded.

© The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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MINER’S AXE

Saxony, 17th Century

length 90 cm.

Typical iron blade, the edge with upward-pointing tip, a trefoil-shaped grip and three and five perforations at the corners. Small, cusped hammer, faceted eye-slot. Walnut shaft with numerous engraved bone inlays, rectangular, heart-shaped, triangular plates, rosettes and dots, engraving depicting Christ on the cross, some figures and flowers. Bone grip, engraved with Saxon coat of arms under an elector's crown, on the other side miners' coat of arms and date “1618”.

©CZERNY'S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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FLINTLOCK GUN BY BARBUTI

Sardinia, 18th Century

length 172 cm.

Very long smoothbore, octagonal, approx 11 mm cal barrel, finely decorated at the breech with floral motifs and a sun with silver inlays, followed by the contemporary marking “M.F.S.”; brass front sight (probably Brescian manufacture; owing to its great length and small calibre, also known as a “beccafico” type). Tang carved with an anthropomorphic figure. Miquelet lock, signed “BARBUTI”, with elegant floral engravings; working two-stage mechanism. Full wooden stock with spectacular iron mounts, finely engraved and pierced, adorned with human and winged figures, grotesque masks, and faces hidden among dense vegetal motifs

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WHEEL-LOCK TSCHINKE

Teschen, 17th Century

length 114 cm.

Conditions: excellent

Long, squared, rifled, 8 mm cal barrel of small caliber, fitted with front sight and rear sight, decorated with gilded floral scrolls; slightly bell-mouthed nozzle. Typical angled lock with angled wheel, equipped with chain and engraved spring, flat lockplate engraved with floral scrolls and remains of orthogonal gilding; slotted pan cover. Pear-wood full stock of typical shape, fully inlaid with bone and mother-of-pearl depicting real and fantastical animals, scrolls, floral motifs, dots, and stripes. Butt with patchbox; smooth iron trigger guard of anatomical shape; bone-tipped wooden ramrod.

©CZERNY'S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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A HUNTING DAGGER

Southern Italy, 1780 - 1790

length 33 cm.

Double-edged blade with flat sides, rounded at the forte and tang with scrolls and a mirrored ‘S’ motif. Knob with flattened cushions and grooves, then faceted and bordered by a small frame. Handle in buffalo horn with longitudinal grooves. The pommel features a round ‘apotropaic’ eye in bone and horn. Original leather scabbard with geometric impressions

©CZERNY'S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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AN ELEGANT TARGET CROSSBOW BY GEORG ESCHER

Saxony, first quarter of the 18th Century

length 69,5 cm.

Conditions: very good

Thin iron arch featuring, on the right in the concave part, a wheel mark in relief surrounded by a crown of rays. Complete with earlier rope-making and two-coloured fabric cord with remains of decorative wool tassels. Tiller made of fruit tree wood, slender in shape, decorated with bleached horn-inlays, engraved and shaped, depicting floral motifs, parrots and an owl, as well as various other small friezes. The square slide is lined with a plate, also made of bleached horn, engraved with florals and featuring the maker's initials "GE"(Georg Escher) at the front edge. Provided with a slot in which the bridle supporting the dart was probably inserted. The dart retention sheath is still present at the back of the nut. The iron nut has a backplate with a well-shaped mask in bas-relief. The mechanics with apparently working trigger and set trigger, the trigger assembly mounted on an iron plate featuring traces of gilding and set into the wood. Design without protective trigger guard but provided with a curved bar at the back. Remains of gilding also on the front stirrup. Minor missing parts, signs of use and time. Probably a commissioned work or a gift intended for the Bavarian court.

Crossbows like this one were used in the 18th century for target shooting as a hobby for noblemen and wealthy middle-class men. The item shown here resembles others in the Dresden armoury

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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KOUMMIYA

Morocco, circa 1900

length 38.5 cm.

Solid, single-and-false-edged blade, wooden grip richly decorated with silver mounts and inlays, remains of red enamels. Fine silver scabbard richly engraved with floral motifs, two large suspension rings.

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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DOUBLE-BARRELED PERCUSSION SHOTGUN WITH CARVED MOUNTS

Sardinia, Mid 19th Century

length 128,7 cm.

Smoothbore, twisted, round barrels with remains of finishing. Rib with brass foresight. 14 mm. cal. at the nozzle. Backward spring locks engraved and carved in racemes. Working mechanism. Cocks with hound's head and neck-plate decorated en suite with the lock plates. Wooden, half stocks with beautiful bearded mask carved in the lower part of the butt stock and enriched with glass eyes. All the rest of the wooden surface covered with rich, carved, iron mounts: the fore-end with a floral weave and leafy frames, the neck with a continuation of the previous decorative theme, with flowers well raised from the bottom. The back of the butt stock with a floral and shell frame, partially openwork. A large decoration on both sides of the butt stock with relief flowers featuring a red stone in the centre and surmounted by a brass cross. German silver butt plate and trigger guard, the latter with a lion in relief rising from a leaf. The muzzle ring is also made of German silver engraved with racemes like the other mounts. On the only uncovered portion of wood, on the butt stock, remains of some engraved spirals. Brass-tipped iron ramrod with iron cartridge extractors

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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SMALL SWORD

France, late 18th Century

length 98 cm.

Straight, double-edged blade, ribbed in the middle. Grooved in the first part with signature "TOMAS AYALA" and engraved with trophies and floral motifs. Tang. Elegant, blackened iron hilt, decorated with steel beads, richly pierced valve.

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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NAVY PERCUSSION PEPPERBOX REVOLVER

Europe, about 1855

length 21.5 cm.

Six-shot, barrel-cylinder, 7 mm cal group made of brass. Brass, box-lock type frame. Iron cock and trigger. Mechanism needs revision. Wooden butt with white metal oval shield

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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 PELLET CROSSBOW

Iron tiller, with lever on the back provided with rear sight; the butt is made of wood engraved with outlines and semi-arcs, on the left side a bone medallion engraved with a squirrel. Ring-guard with guard. Iron bow.

Germany, late 17th Century

Conditions: good

length 57 cm.

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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 CELTO-IBERIAN IRON AGE DAGGER

Spain, 600 - 400 B.C (the site said a.c but considering it is iron age a typo perhaps)

length 45.5 cm.

Straight, double-edged blade with eight narrow grooves tapering together towards the tip. Three-piece cast iron grip comprising a small guard enclosing the base of the blade with a cylindrical faceted grip; the pommel end with two flattened projections with separate hollow cast caps of flattened ovoid section. The blade with dark patina damaged by rust, the grip with traces of gilding

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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DAGGER

Triangular, double-edged, bronze blade, double rib in the middle. Bronze grip with narrow centre, still retains remains of wooden hook. Large, triangular, cage-shaped pommel (one missing stave). 

Egypt, Bronze Age Art (1000 -300 B.C.

length 28.5 cm.

Conditions: good

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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TWO-HANDED SWORD (CLAYMORE)

Scotland, circa 1600

length 180.5 cm.

Wide, straight, double-edged blade, ribbed at the center, with rectangular tang, with a clearly visible, large mark at the center depicting a rampant lion. Iron quillon with straight quillons increasing towards the end, pointed quillon block featuring two large oval parry rings. Long wooden handle covered with original leather (missing parts) decorated with geometric motifs. Large, iron pommel shaped as a spinning top.

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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COMPOSITE SWORD

Germany, 16th - 18th Century

length 108 cm.

Straight, double-edged blade of medium width, hexagonal at the first part and with brass floral inlays at the centre, then ribbed up to the weak (18th century). Beautiful iron hilt carved with floral motifs, "S"-shaped quillons of lozenge section and enlarged towards the end (old restoration), large parry ring, loop guard decorated en suite. Bud-shaped pommel with deep carvings. Wooden handle covered with wire binding and iron Moor's heads

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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FLAMMENSCHWERT (TWO-HANDED SWORD)

Germany, 1620 - 1640

length 180 cm.

Straight blade with very undulating double edges. Wide tang divided into two parts by two large wings provided with cusp bent towards the weak. The upper segment of the tang is covered with the original leather (a missing part on one side). Iron hilt with large parry rings provided with a lily-shaped decoration at the center, wide quillons of lozenge section with curly decorations at the edges. Large, mushroom-shaped pommel. Long, wooden handle covered with black leather covering and provided a double knot at the centre decorated with tassels at the edges

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.

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WALLOON SWORD

Northern Germany, last quarter of the 17th Century

length 93.5 cm.

Medium-width, straight, double-edged blade of lenticular sections. Iron hilt with two pierced volutes, four loop guards, two of them decorated with double knot, thumb ring, vase-shaped pommel. Wooden handle covered with wire binding and brass Moor's heads.

© CZERNY’S INTERNATIONAL AUCTION HOUSE S.r.l.