5th century AD. A bronze lower guard from a longsword, scaphoid in plan with remains of gilding to the surface; shallow ellipsoid recess to the upper face with inner ledge and broader recess to the lower face; series of nineteen rectangular garnet cloisons to the display side of the guard, the outer and middle one carved with a barley-twist design. Cf. Menghin, W., Das Schwert im Frühen Mittelalter, Stuttgart, 1983, items 2 (1d) (Pouan, France), 56 (Planig, Germany); The Merovingian Period. Europe Without Borders, Berlin, 2007, item I.34.5 (Taman, Russia); Miche, M., Die Goldgriffspathas der Frühen Merowingerzeit, in Deutscher, L. et al., Das Schwert - Symbol und Waffe, Rahden, 2014, table 1 1 (Tournai), 9 (Flonheim), Table 2 1 (Arcy-Saint-Restitue), 5 (La Rue Saint Pierre), 9 (Berlin).41.9 grams, 84mm (3 1/4"). Formerly in the private collection of Mr M. B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1989; previously the property of his grandfather since the 1960s-1970s; accompanied by an expertise by Dr. Noel Adams; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10367-168757. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]