A Neolithic thin grey flint pointed knife, Brandon Fields, Suffolk

A Neolithic thin grey flint pointed knife, Brandon Fields, Suffolk

Code: 2755

SOLD

Description: A thin grey flint pointed knife with dense blue-white patination, some small edge chips and minor iron spotting, otherwise condition good, found at Brandon Fields, Suffolk.

Size: 49 mm/1.9 ins. in length

Culture: Neolithic

Date: c. 2000-3500 B.C.

Provenance: Ex Dr. H.A. Fawcett Collection with his collectors mark.

Background: Dr. Hugh Alderson Fawcett (1891-1982) was a general practitioner and antiquarian who built up an important collection of ancient implements, weapons and ornaments that eventually numbered some eight thousand items. It was he who alerted the British Museum to the discovery of the fabulous Mildenhall treasure after being shown it by Sydney Ford during Easter in 1946. The bulk of his collection is now in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, but Fawcett previously sold or traded many pieces in order to improve his collection. His distinctive monogram and careful recording of provenance makes his pieces readily identifiable.

Similar in shape to a leaf-shaped arrowhead but we feel like Fawcett that this is likely to be a knife, on the basis of its size.