Description:

Ancient Greece, late Archaic Period, ca. 500 BCE. A fantastic example of a cast-bronze butt known as a sauroter for the end of a spear handle. The butt has a cylindrical socket with four nodules that encircle the shaft. The socket is surmounted with a pyramidal shaped spike that tapers to a pointed tip. The faces of the spike each have a low relief triangular shape that mirrors the profile of this piece. Sauroters could be used to balance the spear - and as its own weapon, should the spear head have broken. It was also used to stand a spear up in soft earth in order to brace the spear when facing soldiers charging their horses. Size: 12.25" L x .75" W (31.1 cm x 1.9 cm)

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA acquired before 2000; ex-Andy Garcia collection

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#162755

  • Condition: Repaired with end of socket reattached with visible break line encircling shaft. Loss to tip. Heavy green patina and nice preservation of triangular motifs.

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June 17, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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