10th-11th century AD. An iron double axehead from Byzantium or Caucas with curved blades, swept rear edge, square chin, central socket with flanged sides. See Nicolle, D., The Armies of Islam 7th-11th century London, 1982, pl.D2; for examples represented in artworks Nicolle, D., Arms and Armour of the Crading Era, 1050-1350 AD, volume II, London, 1999, figs.33c, 119e-f. 940 grams, 20.5cm wide (8"). Ex California, A, collection formed since the late 1960s. European art market before the late 1990s. Small battle double axes like this one are rarely found in archaeology, but they were ed by Eastern Romans and Armenians, where they are widely represented in the artworks (Studite Psalter, Byzantium, British Library Ms.Add.19532; Armenian Gospel, 11th century, ms.no.974, Yerevan, Armenia"). Such weapons might have parallels in the light tabarzin cavalry axe of contemporary Islamic sources. Many Armenian mercenaries served in the Fatimid armies and their traditional equipment, like the double-axe, soon appeared in Egyptian art. [No Reserve]