Bronze Age Bronze Spearhead with Rat-Tail Tang (No Reserve Price)
No. 94482859



A fine large Bronze Age bronze spearhead, featuring a leaf-shaped blade with round, sloping shoulders and a prominent raised central midrib. From the blade, a 'rat-tail' tang descends, curving sharply at the base and finishing with a circular finial. This would have been inserted into a wooden shaft. Beautiful patina and earthly encrustations to the surface. Signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as large chips and scratches to the edges of the blade and tang.
Excavated items most often included weapons, tools, vessels and finials, but ornamental pieces such as amulets, fittings and jewellery such as pins or bracelets also feature in the material record. Early models of spearheads were designed looking like flat dagger-like blade with a thin tang which would be used to attach the metal head to a wooden shaft and be tied to the body. Later designs, such as this one, would evolve to provide side support which would allow a more secure attachment to the weapon.
Measurements: (circa) L 25.8cm x W 4.9cm
Provenance: Ex London Collection, formed between 1990-present.
Seller's Story
A fine large Bronze Age bronze spearhead, featuring a leaf-shaped blade with round, sloping shoulders and a prominent raised central midrib. From the blade, a 'rat-tail' tang descends, curving sharply at the base and finishing with a circular finial. This would have been inserted into a wooden shaft. Beautiful patina and earthly encrustations to the surface. Signs of wear as consistent with its age, such as large chips and scratches to the edges of the blade and tang.
Excavated items most often included weapons, tools, vessels and finials, but ornamental pieces such as amulets, fittings and jewellery such as pins or bracelets also feature in the material record. Early models of spearheads were designed looking like flat dagger-like blade with a thin tang which would be used to attach the metal head to a wooden shaft and be tied to the body. Later designs, such as this one, would evolve to provide side support which would allow a more secure attachment to the weapon.
Measurements: (circa) L 25.8cm x W 4.9cm
Provenance: Ex London Collection, formed between 1990-present.