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LOT 0339
Amarlu Type Bronze Sword with Mushroom Pommel
LATE 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
20 1/4 in. (598 grams, 51.5 cm).
With solid hilt having a penannular guard, an openwork grip and a conical cast mushroom pommel, the blade with pronounced mid-rib and tapering to a sharp point.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See typology of such swords in Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, pp.393-396, cat.31-36.
FootnotesAccording to Moorey, such swords with mushroom pommels originated from North-Western Iran, as proved by Amarlu finds. He dates them to the end of the 2nd millennium B.C., more precisely to a period between 1400-1200 B.C.
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AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Bronze Sword
Late 2nd-early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
The hilt with mushroom-shaped pommel, round grip, crescentic guard with double horizontal bars, long sloping blade with rounded mid-ridge. 743 grams, 48 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
This category of swords has been classified by Khorasani as 'swords with a mushroom pommel' and are usually characterised by a solid-cast hilt with a penannular guard, a ribbed or variously decorated grip and the conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel. Usually the blade is multi-fullered and tapers to a sharp tip. Moorey considers them to be from the end of the 2nd millennium B.C. -
Luristan Bronze Arrows and Blades Group
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Comprising mainly narrow two-edged blades, barbed-and-tanged arrowheads and other types. 503 grams total, 9-20.7 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Western Asiatic Integral Hilted Bronze Short Sword
Late 3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £130
With a broad, lentoid-section flat blade, rounded tip, sloping sides, well marked shoulders with wide but short tang. 713 grams, 43.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The sword finds similarity with the one from the Royal Cemetery of Ur. This is the most primitive form of dagger, consisting of a simple, pointed blade having slightly convex outline shoulders sloping to a short tang which has no rivets, and was probably hafted to wood with bitumen.
