Merovingian Iron And Wood Scramasaxe – Former Auguste Nicaise Collection (1828-1900)

Merovingian iron scramasaxe Rare scramasaxe from the Merovingian period, discovered near Épernay in the Marne. Formerly from the Auguste Nicaise collection (1828-1900), then from the Cousin collection in Simandres. The weapon is 55 cm long, with a blade reaching a maximum width of 5.5 cm. Parallel lines punctuate the upper part of the blade. The tang is thick and the final part of the blade curves downwards. Work specific to the early 7th century. A notable feature is that the object still retains some of its original wood at the handle, an exceptional fact for this type of discovery. Merovingian work from the 7th century. Rare testimony to an unknown period with a provenance from a large 19th century collection. Similar models in different museums: Dijon Museum Inv. No. 2011-1-2 Bernard d'Agesci Museum of Niort n° 992.8.3 Béhaut Necropolis n° GRD_2009.0.376 Auguste Nicaise (1828-1900), born and died in Châlons-en-Champagne, was a scholar, historian and archaeologist from Champagne. Coming from a family of doctors, he studied law in Paris before becoming a prefectural attaché and then a justice of the peace. Enlisted during the war of 1870 in the auxiliary corps of engineers led by Viollet-le-Duc, he also pursued a career as a passionate archaeologist. An active member of the Society of Agriculture, Commerce, Sciences and Arts of the Marne, he devoted a large part of his life to the study of prehistory and the Gallo-Roman period, and published numerous works in the Memoirs of the Society. A seasoned collector, he transformed his house into a veritable private museum and left several notable works, including The Gallic Era in the Marne Department (1884) and Archaeology, Its Domain and Its Influence (1894), which bear witness to his pioneering role in promoting regional heritage.