Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Biconical in profile with a scorpion in raised relief on one side, and a bundle of thunderbolts on the other side. 35.2 grams, 36 mm



Previously property of an Austrian collector, Vienna, Austria. From a German private collection, formed since the 1980s.

Featuring a leaf-shaped blade with rounded shoulders, wide midrib extending to a tubular socket. 236 grams, 35.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

With curved flaring cutting edge, characteristic curving shape and narrow socket, blade end squaring off, shaft hole pierced on both sides. 227 grams, 10.6 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

These collared axes have the specific feature of being equipped with variously shaped rear extensions. The provenance of this typology is clearer than others: these axes came from Margiana and southern Bactria. Gonur Depe and Susa yielded a rather atypical and probably imported example. P. Amiet suggests that they were an adoption of Elamite material, from conceptual and institutional models. They would have developed from the end of the 3rd and the beginning of the 2nd millennium B.C.

Royal Navy 1845 Pattern cutlass with short single-edged blade with fuller and sturdy back, swept guard and leather-covered scales to the grip; stamped to one face at the ricasso [crown] over '13' and heraldic (?) stamp to the other side; old collector's label 'British Naval Boarding Cutlass, Victorian, crown above 13 mark, and unidentified mark other side'. 791 grams, 70 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

With a short socketted shaft, the plain rectangular blade broadening towards the cutting edge; side holes on the shaft. 446 grams, 11.4 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

Unadorned weapons, especially axes, adzes, and picks, were made by Luristan craftsmen using simple clay or stone bivalve moulds, into which a core was inserted to form the socket for the shaft. Typically, the metallic composition consisted of a combination of arsenical bronze and copper, together with a small percentage of lead.

Comprising a square-section tapering shank developing to the midrib of a leaf-shaped two-edged blade with flange to each shoulder, tang with hooked end and button finial. 295 grams, 50.3 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.

Featuring a slender triangular-section blade and a flat-section tang with rivets still in situ. 208 grams, 35.6 cm



Acquired on the UK art market since the 1960s. From the private collection of Mr J.P.H., a Woolwich, UK, collector, his collection formed since the 1960s.

Including barbed-and-tanged, heater-shaped, leaf-shaped and other types. 249 grams total, 7.6-16.5 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.

Comprising a thin two-edged blade with curved tip and X-shaped wooden hilt with rounded fluting; leather sheath with moulded detailing and stamped roundels adorned with the preserved head of a crocodile placed vertically at the top as if the dagger were between its jaws. 190 grams, 27.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Slender and leaf-shaped with lozenge-sectioned midrib, square-section tang with right-angled bend and square button finial. 200 grams, 28.3 cm



Ex Abelita collection, 1980s-2010.

Comprising a postcard of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini; a print of a photo depicting Adolf Hitler from his visit to Festung Landsberg in 1934; a bracelet with Tibetan-style barrel and discoid beads with a swastika symbol, with round beads and modern clasps. 29 grams total, bracelet: 20.5 cm



Private collection, London, UK.

Comprising tanged arrowheads, seven with large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, two with barbed shoulders and cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft. 205 grams total, 9.1-12.3 cm



London, UK, collection, 1990s.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategories C and D, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik, and Northern Iran, individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders. Most of them were cast in moulds.