Iron Age Iron HUGE Spearhead - 33 cm (No reserve price)
08
days
20
hours
12
minutes
20
seconds
Current bid
€ 2
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 330 - € 400
 | €2 |
|---|
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Description from the seller
ITEM: HUGE Spearhead
MATERIAL: Iron
CULTURE: Iron Age
PERIOD: 1st millenium B.C
DIMENSIONS: 330 mm x 37 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired between 1980 - 1990
The iron spearhead stands as one of the defining artifacts of the Iron Age (c. 1200–1 BCE), marking a fundamental shift in ancient metallurgy, warfare, and society. Unlike bronze, which required long-distance trade networks to obtain tin and copper, iron ore was widely abundant across Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Near East. The transition to forged iron allowed tribal chieftains and early states to mass-produce reliable, lethal weaponry for entire armies rather than equipping only an elite warrior class. As the primary offense weapon of both infantry foot soldiers and cavalry, the iron spearhead became an essential tool of territorial defense, conquest, and power projection.
In terms of design and craftsmanship, Iron Age spearheads demonstrate a high level of blacksmithing skill, tailored for penetration and structural resilience. Blacksmiths hand-forged bloomery iron into a variety of shapes—ranging from broad, leaf-shaped blades designed to inflict wide slashing wounds to narrow, diamond-sectioned points engineered to pierce leather or chainmail armor. A central longitudinal rib often reinforced the length of the blade to prevent bending under heavy impact. At the base, a hollow split socket was hammered to fit snugly around a long wooden shaft, often secured with iron rivets, nails, or tight leather bindings.
Beyond its practical role in battle, the iron spearhead held profound symbolic and ritual significance across Iron Age cultures, including Celtic, Germanic, and Iberian tribes. Spears were viewed as extensions of a warrior's martial identity, honor, and social status. Archaeologists frequently discover iron spearheads in rich warrior burials, deliberately bent, broken, or "killed" prior to interment to decommission their physical strength and dedicate their spirit to the deceased. Others were cast into rivers, bogs, and lakes as votive offerings to deities, underscoring the spearhead's dual role as a deadly military implement and a sacred object bridging the physical and supernatural realms.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: HUGE Spearhead
MATERIAL: Iron
CULTURE: Iron Age
PERIOD: 1st millenium B.C
DIMENSIONS: 330 mm x 37 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, acquired between 1980 - 1990
The iron spearhead stands as one of the defining artifacts of the Iron Age (c. 1200–1 BCE), marking a fundamental shift in ancient metallurgy, warfare, and society. Unlike bronze, which required long-distance trade networks to obtain tin and copper, iron ore was widely abundant across Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Near East. The transition to forged iron allowed tribal chieftains and early states to mass-produce reliable, lethal weaponry for entire armies rather than equipping only an elite warrior class. As the primary offense weapon of both infantry foot soldiers and cavalry, the iron spearhead became an essential tool of territorial defense, conquest, and power projection.
In terms of design and craftsmanship, Iron Age spearheads demonstrate a high level of blacksmithing skill, tailored for penetration and structural resilience. Blacksmiths hand-forged bloomery iron into a variety of shapes—ranging from broad, leaf-shaped blades designed to inflict wide slashing wounds to narrow, diamond-sectioned points engineered to pierce leather or chainmail armor. A central longitudinal rib often reinforced the length of the blade to prevent bending under heavy impact. At the base, a hollow split socket was hammered to fit snugly around a long wooden shaft, often secured with iron rivets, nails, or tight leather bindings.
Beyond its practical role in battle, the iron spearhead held profound symbolic and ritual significance across Iron Age cultures, including Celtic, Germanic, and Iberian tribes. Spears were viewed as extensions of a warrior's martial identity, honor, and social status. Archaeologists frequently discover iron spearheads in rich warrior burials, deliberately bent, broken, or "killed" prior to interment to decommission their physical strength and dedicate their spirit to the deceased. Others were cast into rivers, bogs, and lakes as votive offerings to deities, underscoring the spearhead's dual role as a deadly military implement and a sacred object bridging the physical and supernatural realms.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Iron Age
Century/timeframe
1st millenium B.C
Name of object
HUGE Spearhead
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2024
Material
Iron
Country acquired from
United Kingdom
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Height
33 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
1990
Width
3.7 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
United Kingdom
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
