A magnificent Byzantine double-edged iron sword from the Migration Period with beautiful heart-shaped garnets. The top of the blade has sloped shoulders where a heart, triangle and rectangle shaped garnet decorated guard rests. This sword has a short tang and a rounded pommel with three (of four) inlaid garnets. (84.5 cm). An excellent example of an early iron sword with garnets, the blade has bowed slightly and the metal has significantly oxidised, the guard rests on the shoulders, and the pommel is detached.
 
PROVENANCE: From a private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather’s collection formed before the early 1970s.
 
This sword has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number 12357-225921. This sword has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated declaration by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato at Timeline Auctions.
 
Weaponry sits within an interesting space within the realm of Saints and Sinners. Many Saints are depicted holding them using them, such as Saint Michael slaying the Devil. The purpose of weaponry is to protect, but they also have to purpose to kill, which goes against the ten commandments laid out by God for mankind. Thus, objects such as these create a paradox of good and evil, in the defence of ‘good.’