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LOT 1059
Babylonian Bronze Axehead
2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
4 1/8 in. (204 grams, 10.5 cm).
A bronze duck-billed shaft-hole axe head featuring a curved, beak-shaped blade with two pierced eyes and a raised median ridge.
ProvenanceAcquired early 1990s.
Ex private American collection; thence by descent.
Private Swiss collection since 1998.
Cf. Gernez, G., L’armament en métal au Proche et Moyen-Orient: des origines a 1750 av. J.C., Paris, 2007, fig.2.42, type H4b.
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AUCTIONS:
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Viking Rus Period Bearded Type Axehead
Circa 11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
An iron axehead with sturdy neck and slightly curved triangular blade; socket with lateral flanges and long rectangular extension to the rear. 746 grams, 19 cm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector.
The axe seems to be a variation of type III of the Kirpichnikov classification of the Eastern Rus Axes typology - battle axes with downwards blade, two pairs of side wings and an elongated cut-out butt. Paulsen called the related type "Varangian group" of North Baltic axes. -
London Proofed Percussion Revolver
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
A double action nickel plated 5-shot percussion revolver with numbered chambers, the chambers and barrel bearing London proof marks and the barrel numbered 2; the frame with foliate engraving and fitted with chequered wood grip scales with hinged steel loading lever; action in working order. 480 grams, 18 cm
Acquired Peter Wilson Auction, 2020, lot 10. Property of a Kent collector. Accompanied by lot ticket.
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. -
Luristan Arrowhead Group
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
A group of six bronze arrowheads with deltoid form, a sharp barbed blade and prominent midrib extending to a long tang. 52 grams total, 4.3-10.9 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
A number of arrowheads of this type have been excavated from the Northern Iranian Plateau, in Luristan and in the South-Caspian region. Many parallels have a burial provenance, but a large hoard of them was found in a non-funerary context. This type of arrowhead has been in use from the 2nd millennium B.C. Godard claimed that barbed types of heads came from tombs from Luristan, like the ones found in Tang-i-Hamamlan.
