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LOT 1356
Bactrian Bronze Claw Axehead-Mace
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
4 in. (127 grams, 10.1 cm).
Egg-shaped with spiked sleeves or prongs, the top of the weapon with a narrow edge, the sleeves with small internal tangs for mounting.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
The 'claw mace' was an enigmatic ancient bronze weapon from the Bronze Age Near East. The hollow bulbous head was trailed by tines of varying lengths. It is believed that it was affixed over a wooden shaft and used like a club in combat, and not necessarily used as ceremonial weapon. The knife edge bulb end could have broken bones and proven to be a formidable striking weapon requiring no skill to wield. The tines would have not only been decorative, but have served to add strength below the striking end to prevent breakage. In battle, maces were often used by commanders to display rank when giving orders in battle and leading soldiers, inspiring leadership and power.
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AUCTIONS:
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Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Group
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Comprising fifteen tanged examples, including one slender arrowhead in iron. 112 grams total, 44-75 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Comprising mainly tanged arrowheads including various types of leaf-shaped heads with midribs. 200 grams total, 12-15.3 cm
Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.
The barbed arrowhead seems to belong to the type V, subcategory type C, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C large triangular arrowheads with barbed shoulders and D with lanceolate shape and rounded midrib. The straight shoulders recalls a Marlik typology (see Khorasani, 2006, p.307, fig.379). -
Large Roman Socketted Iron Spearhead
3rd-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
With a large triangular blade, fitted with a central shallow groove, squared shoulders and a socketted shaft. 834 grams, 46.5 cm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
This spear was probably part of the armament of the Imperial Guards of the late Roman Empire. Similar spears are visible on the recently found reliefs of Nicomedia, in the hands of a protector divini lateris (guard of the Divine Flanks) of the Emperor Diocletian (Agturk, 2021, p.115) and other Imperial infantrymen. The same kind of spear is visible on a recently discovered sarcophagus of a protector of Diocletian, Tziampo, from the same locality.
