Lot 50A
Central Europe, Germany (Eastern Frankish kingdom), post-Migration/early Medieval Period, ca. 11th century CE. A very interestingly-shaped steel knife with a fine dual horse head at the pommel. Only one side is beveled, which may imply a personal preference by the person who commissioned it; dual-beveled blades are much more common from this period in Europe (single bevels are associated with medieval Japanese weapons). Although the designs of the pommel and grip are symmetrical, the guard is not, mirroring the blade. Size: 3.9" W x 9.8" H (9.9 cm x 24.9 cm)
This personalized knife was probably a treasured personal object carried by someone whose identity was strongly bound to the care for and riding of horses. The ownership of a horse in this world was a sign of wealth, and this person would have been an elite in their society - a knight, the mobile mounted warriors who were given benefices of land by rulers like Charlemagne in exchange for their military service. Near-constant warfare at the end of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th and 10th centuries entrenched the power of these men, and by the 11th century, with attacks from the north (the Vikings), the south (the Saracens), and the east (the Magyars), they made themselves vital to early medieval society. They could commission beautiful weapons like this one - which once would have had cloth or leather wrapped around the grip and whose blade, guard, and pommel would once have gleamed brightly.
Provenance: Ex-Private LA County collection formed over the period between 1980 and 2000.
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#119829
- Condition: Great patina overall; excellent shape and detail.
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