These are a perfect example of what is wrong with the
relationship between archeologists and the antiquities market. Several
hundred to several thousands of these are on the market in 1999.
They come from "Eastern Europe," no other information available (I think
Bulgaria is the best bet). They are fairly obviously not a hoard
of any kind, but rather (most likely) adventitious or metal detector finds
over a wide area. "Probably" they represent the detritus of many
battles between many cultures over perhaps a thousand year period.
I wish I had more information to give you. Even so, better to have
the objects available than thrown away as trash, which is what undoubtedly
happens to a lot of them. All descriptions, other than physical details,
are guesswork on my part. If someone has a reference to these please
get in touch.
F1. 95mm with socket, probably ancient, 35.00 sold
F2. 61mm, very crude design, possibly ancient or maybe
just a local product of an unimaginative blacksmith of any period, 30.00
F3. 88mm, I think that ridiculously short tang is unbroken,
25.00
F4. 122mm, to me feels Islamic, or maybe Greek, 35.00
sold
F5. 131mm, feels medieval, 35.00 sold
F6. 117mm, only one like it in the batch I saw, 35.00
sold
F7. (112mm), F8. (116mm), F9. (95mm), seems obvious that
these are from the same culture, if not the same workshop, and my guess
is medieval, @ 30.00 each F7,
F9 sold
F10. 63mm, same shape but smaller, I don't know 27.00
F11. 74mm, similar in shape to F3 above, 27.00 sold
F12. 88mm, 27.00
F13. 88mm, exceptionally well preserved, 30.00 sold
F14. 114mm, 30.00 sold
I was told by two people that these are Mongol, 13th century.
F15. 114mm, 30.00 sold
F16. 116mm, 30.00 sold
F17. 98mm, 30.00 sold
F18. 118mm, 30.00 sold
F19. 103mm, 30.00 sold
F20. 113mm, 30.00 sold
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Bob Reis
POB 26303
Raleigh NC 27611
USA
phone: (919) 787-0881
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fax: (919) 787-1882
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