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| Antiques For Sale |
| This page features genuine pieces of antique arms and armour for sale. Wherever any restoration has been carried out, this will be clearly decribed. The authenticity of the pieces is guaranteed, and if neccessary can be backed up by metallography tests. |
Arms |
An Ahlspiess (awlspike). Steel and wood. German, Late 15th - Early 16th Century |
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Staff weapons like these were used by city guards, as well as field troops, and many examples survive from city arsenals. Their period of use extends from the middle of the 15th Century to the early part of the 16th century. In essence, they are simply a very long socketed spike, with a disc-guard, used both to protect the left hand of the soldier wielding the weapon, and also to stop the head being pushed clear through the body of his opponent. They appear frequently in the hands of Landsknechts, in the engravings of Albrecht Dürer, Hans Doring, and also in Der Weißkönig by Hans Burgmair.
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Bibliography: Heinrich Muller Albrecht Dürer - Waffen und Rüstungen, Philip von Zabern, 2002 Mario Troso Le Armi in Asta Instituto Grafico de Agostini, 1988 Restorations: consolidation of the head, restoration of the disc guard, langets and haft. Length overall 84", head 24". German, Late 15th - Early 16th Century Sold |
Armour |
A Spaudler for the Left Shoulder. Steel, German (possibly Brunswick), Late 16th Century |
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Of seven lames, the lowest with a finely file-roped turned lower edge with a sunken border. This piece is the left element of the classic shoulder-defence of the infantry corselet of the second half of the 16th Century: the Almain collar. The cusped embossing of the lower lame is often seen on Brunswick pieces. One of the lames has had a small patch applied a long time ago, probably at the same time that it was re-leathered. Both repairs probably date from the 19th Century. German, possibly Brunswick. Price: £495 |
A Shot-Proof Backplate For a Lancer or Cuirassier. Iron: Northern European, Beginning of the 17th Century
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Although this backplate bears no proof marks, it is extremely heavy, being some 5 kilos, and is every bit as protective as heavy breastplates of the period. It is very well shaped, with particularly subtle embossing for the shoulder blades. The turned edges at the neck, armpits and waist, are punched at 90 degrees to the turn, rather than being file-roped. This is Northern European technique, and this piece is probably German. It has pairs of holes on either side of the shoulders and waist for the leather straps that would have attached it to the breastplate. The elegant curved shape, and the lack of attachment points for a culet, would suggest that this piece was made when the heavy 'Lancer' of the late 16th entury was becoming the 'Cuirassier' of the early 17th Century. The whole piece is covered in a very pleasing dark 'chocolate' patina. Provenence: Harvey Collection. Northern European, probably German. Price: £950 If you are interested in purchasing any piecess on this page, then go to the Contact Us page for details of how to get in touch. |