Shipwreck Sale: Holy Grail of the Artifact Groups--Crossbow arrowhead, Rings, Carved Whorl

This is far and away the finest of the several group lots available in the sale. No item would sell for less than $10-$15 and most several times that amount!

The handsomely carved ceramic/clay whorl was used as a "stop" on a smool of wool when using a knitting wheel. It was designed to keep the spinning yarn from slipping off. This one is quite nice and unusal in that it was made fancier than most, with the maker taking the time to carve a nice shape and design. We have a more traditional flat, undesigned whorl in the sale as well.

Included are two Roman bronze rings. These are examples of thin, simply carved rings that are common enough that with some judicious hunting can be found for as little as $10-$15 each.

The massive iron pieces aer the "business end" of crossbow arrows. It doesn't take a particularly inventive imagination to picture how these would feel rushing toward you in battle. Plunging in flesh they had the power, velocity and weight to be propelled several inches into the body, perhaps through ribs and into organs in a fatal strike. The larger of the two is twice as heavy adn both are 2-to-2 1/2 inches long. The top one might have been used differently since it has the narrower structure indicating it was hammered into a slightly carved out arrow or spear. Either one could prove deadly. These can cost $30-$40 each.

While this is the most expensive of the group lots it also is the best bargain due to the high value of all of the items.