Rare Roman Bronze Hammer Drilled Hafting Holes
Roman, late Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to early 5th century CE. An interesting and rare example of a cast-bronze hammer of double-ended form with a rectangular midsection, a conical beating head, and a lengthy back head used for finishing. The center of the tool bears evidence of drilled hafting holes on 3 of the 4 faces. The presence of 3 partial hafting holes perhaps suggests that the artisan had a lapse in concentration when boring the hafting holes out, starting one on the top, then another on the side before realizing the mistake. Thick deposits within the lateral cavity suggest the artisan attempted to fix their mistake before moving on to the beginnings of a hafting hole beneath the topmost cavity before giving up entirely. Thick layers of green and brown patina as well as iron patina cover the entire tool. Size: 7" L x 1.625" W (17.8 cm x 4.1 cm); 5.2" H (13.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#157162
Condition Report: Loss to tip of back head as shown. Heavy encrustations across entire tool, with oxidation around topmost cavity, abrasions to several areas, and modern grinding evidence along some petite areas, perhaps to reveal the underlying metal. Great patina throughout.
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Roman, late Imperial Period, ca. 3rd to early 5th century CE. An interesting and rare example of a cast-bronze hammer of double-ended form with a rectangular midsection, a conical beating head, and a lengthy back head used for finishing. The center of the tool bears evidence of drilled hafting holes on 3 of the 4 faces. The presence of 3 partial hafting holes perhaps suggests that the artisan had a lapse in concentration when boring the hafting holes out, starting one on the top, then another on the side before realizing the mistake. Thick deposits within the lateral cavity suggest the artisan attempted to fix their mistake before moving on to the beginnings of a hafting hole beneath the topmost cavity before giving up entirely. Thick layers of green and brown patina as well as iron patina cover the entire tool. Size: 7" L x 1.625" W (17.8 cm x 4.1 cm); 5.2" H (13.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#157162
Condition Report: Loss to tip of back head as shown. Heavy encrustations across entire tool, with oxidation around topmost cavity, abrasions to several areas, and modern grinding evidence along some petite areas, perhaps to reveal the underlying metal. Great patina throughout.
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