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LOT 1174
Greek and Other Bronze Tanged Arrowhead Collection
CIRCA 12TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
2 - 3 3/8 in. (141 grams total, 49-85 mm).
Comprising three tanged Luristan arrowheads, having elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft and barbed shoulders; eleven Greek paddle-shaped arrowheads with a flat and wide mid-rib, the blade shaped to a point; a small Persian or Greek foliate arrowhead with a long tang; a flat and foliate bronze arrowhead. [16]
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no. 26.199.291, for the Greek arrowheads; for the three Luristan examples see Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, fig.467.
FootnotesIn Greek warfare, archers were mainly employed by Scythians and Cretans. Both used composite bows made of wood, horn, bone and sinew. The Luristan examples seem to belong to the type V, subcategory C of triangular arrowheads according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban.
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LOT 1174
Greek and Other Bronze Tanged Arrowhead Collection
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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'The Repton' British Viking Iron Bearded Axehead
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,061
Hand-forged with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with rounded extensions to the rear. 464 grams, 15 cm
Found Repton, Nottingham, UK, in the 1960s. Gary Edwards, York, UK. Private collection, Preston, UK. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and receipt from Gary Edwards, no.12386.
The bearded axehead were called skeggöks, in Norse language, and had a long edge designated to work split tree-trunks into planks and beams. -
Luristan Bronze Handled Dagger
Circa 1000 B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Having a narrow triangular blade with gentle midrib and narrow point, scooped shoulders, long flat-section tang with lobe finial. 123 grams, 35 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The type of the present dirk or dagger corresponds to type IX of Medvedskaya classification. The type consists of a bronze blade with organic handle, possibly made of bone or wood, and a long tang, which was usually bent at the extremity. According to Moorey, the exact dating of these pieces is uncertain. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Piriform body with domed filler-hole, raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 500 grams, 12 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
