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_900x900.jpg "Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain")
_200x200.jpg "Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain")
_900x900.jpg "Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain")
_200x200.jpg "Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain")
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LOT 0330
Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain
6TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
14 3/4 in. (14 3/4 in.) (392 grams, 36.5 cm (473 grams total, 37.6 cm high including stand)).
The upper part of the hilt shaped as a horse-head with an applied sheet-gold mane, wearing a gold bridle of Greek typology adorned with rosettes, mouthpiece formed of wire with garnet beads, and a large garnet cabochon set at the front of the bridle; the upper hilt connected to the straight blade with a restored grip; accompanied by a perspex scabbard with original gold sheet attached; possibly a marriage; mounted on a custom-made display stand.
ProvenancePrivate collection of a London gentleman, acquired between 1965–2020.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12619-235454.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. for parallels of the horse hilt from a machaira in Metropolitan Museum, inv. no. 2001.346; parallels for the blade in Head, D., The Achaemenid Persian Army, Stockport, 1992, p.28, letters d-e-g-h; for parallels of the muzzle, see the horse harness of Alexander the Great on the statuette of Napoli Archaeological Museum in Sekunda, N., The Army of Alexander the Great, London, 1984, p.35.
FootnotesThe akinakes was the short dagger of the Scythians and the Achaemenid Persians. Many examples of this characteristic weapon have been found in every corner of the Persian Empire. The hilt was often made of bronze, gold or gilded. It is visible in the hands of the Medes and Persians in the reliefs of Persepolis. These weapons, straight and double-edged, were about 35 cm long. The scabbards could be covered with gold, hung from the belt at the waist and, according to Herodotus, attached to the right thigh with a thong.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0330
Achaemenid Akinakes with Horse-Head Hilt and Gold Chain
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
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Villanovan Bronze Helmet
8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
With rounded bowl and flared rim; three sets of paired piercings for attachment of leather cheek-flaps; cracked; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.7 kg, 30.5 cm wide
Bowl pierced and cracked.
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private European collection since 1998. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11573-199009. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The ‘pot’ or ‘bell’ helmet, found in contexts as early as the 8th century coffer grave (ad arca) from the Esquiline (Rome) and other graves (Coussin, 1926, p.88, fig.23; Sekunda, Northwood,1995, p.6, grave 94) was made from a single piece of bronze, while later Italic variants were fashioned from jointed plates (Connolly, 1981, p.102, figs.2-2a; Egg, 1988, p.223, variant Vetulonia). The skull was somewhat spherical, with a flared rim: in some Etruscan and Italic specimens, this was rivetted for strength. -
Greek Bronze Cuirass Section of Thorax Stadios
4th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Possibly the lower left side element of a cavalry armour of thorax stadios (muscled armour) typology, upper, lower and external side with well preserved edge, fastening holes visible. 250 grams, 22 cm
UK private collection, acquired in 1996. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Armour for cavalrymen in classical Greece were specially designed with these characteristics. They were very broad on the hips to enable their wearers to sit a horse. Important parallels are known from South Italy, one of them preserved in the Bari Museum. -
Luristan Gilt-Bronze Horse Bit Terminal
13th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £75
Tubular bronze body with stepped profile, topped with an ibex head with curved horns, square-section perpendicular shank; some gilding remaining. 117 grams, 92 mm
Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
