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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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Viking Age Bearded Battle Axehead
Early 11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A Baltic hand-forged iron axehead with scooped socket, broad blade with extension to the lower edge, hole to the blade. 532 grams total, axe: 14.7 cm
Acquired on the London art market, 1990s. Private collection, London. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes, commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic-Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and longbows, while swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden or from elsewhere Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments. Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade, often perforated through the centre. They are characterised by two projecting spurs from the top and the bottom of the back of the shaft-hole. -
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Late 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced midrib and thick neck, flared base, square-section tang with stud. 504 grams, 41cm
Ex London art market, 1980-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
The type belongs to the category of tripartite lances with long pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. In this typology the blade, of rhomboidal section, is usually well balanced. The stem, medium or short, is widened at its base and forms a fairly clean stop. Elements of shaft of a similar spear found at Tepe Hissar has allowed to reconstruct the length of the spear reaching up to 1.40 m. -
Greek Period High Quality Large Bronze Arrowhead Collection
5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Mostly long leaf-shaped types with short socket. 50 grams total, 30-45 mm
From an English collection formed before 2000. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
