Provenance:

Art Market, Netherlands.

Private Collection, Cologne, Germany, acquired in 1996.

Ariadne Galleries, New York, 2016 (Art & Adornment: Treasures of Combat, p. 110-111, no. 32).

Ritually bent and still retaining its scabbard, this sword reflects a practice seen across Europe from the Bronze Age through the Migration Period, in which weapons were intentionally deformed before deposition. In the Celtic world, the bending of a blade is generally interpreted as a symbolic act of decommissioning, effectively “killing” the weapon and preventing its further use in the afterlife.

Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe. Part of the chape preserved at the tip. Heavily corroded and encrusted throughout, with fine details still visible in select areas. Overall in fair condition. See additional images. Not affixed to stand. Height with stand 57 cm (22 1/2 inches).

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