Bactrian Ceremonial Claw Macehead

Comprising axeheads of different types, together with a pickaxe with a small hammer-style butt. 5.48 kg total, 16-30 cm



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.

Various axes of similar types have been recovered from the colonies of the New World. One of our specimen seems to be a French hatchet marked with a cross and circle, like the one found in the estate of Tom Wnuck.

The undulating blade with a single cutting edge, guard and tang, together with a chape (belonging) with decorative incising. 159 grams, 26 cm



Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance.

Comprising four tanged arrowheads, having large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, rectangular section stem with handle for the shaft, barbed shoulders and convex or squared sides. 161 grams total, 13-17 cm



From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, 1969-1999; thence by descent.

These arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A and 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 A and C of type V are larger arrow heads with barbed shoulders and triangular heads. These types of arrowheads were commonly used in Anatolia and Mesopotamia from the 2nd millennium B.C., but apparently their employment began earlier in this area, where types like these occur alongside the non-barbed, predominantly ribbed and tanged types.