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.

Private 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.

The 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.