Sarmatian Silver-Gilt Belt Mount Group

2nd-1st century BC
A mixed silver-gilt mount set comprising: a long tongue-shaped bifacial scabbard chape with remains of the blade-tip within; thirteen trapezoidal plaques with foliage and tendrils. 122 grams total, 4-16cm (1 1/2 - 6 1/4"). Fine condition. Rare. [14, No Reserve]
Provenance
Property of a European businessman; previously in an old European collection; formerly in an old Ukrainian collection before the Russian Socialist Revolution of 1917, with collection number 46; accompanied by an original handwritten collector's page, dated 3rd March 1908, showing a cost of 10 roubles; and also accompanied by a typed translation and explanatory note.
Footnotes
The Sarmatians were a confederation of mainly Iranian peoples who came to dominate the western end of the Eurasian Steppe from the 5th century BC onwards. In the early centuries AD, Sarmatian power was disrupted by the movement of Goths and other tribes under pressure from the Huns, and eventually they became absorbed by the emerging Slavic groups in eastern Europe. Isolated sub-groups of Sarmatians settled in western Europe in the Late Roman era, known by the name 'Alans' and other terms.