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LOT 1489
Greek Bronze Arrowhead Collection
CIRCA 5TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
1 1/4 - 1 1/2 in. (25 grams total, 33-38 mm).
Comprising four socketted arrowheads, mainly triangular or foliate in section, trilobate and with short socket, one with holes for the application of incendiary material; two with barbs. [4, No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. Furtwängler, A., Olympia. Die Ergebnisse der von dem Deutschen Reich veranstalteten Ausgrabung, Band 4. 2 Bände (Textband, Tafelband), Berlin, 1890, pl.LXIV, nos.1076, 1079, 1082, 1083, 1086, 1090; Sekunda, N., Marathon 490 BC, The first Persian invasion of Greece, Oxford, 2002, p.60.
FootnotesIn Greek warfare archery was mainly employed by Scythians and Cretans for longer-ranks. Both used composite bows made of wood, horn, bone and sinew.
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Piriform body with segmented shoulder and impressed roundels, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 294 grams, 91 mm
From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s. 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Mixed Iron Knife Collection
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
Including a double-bladed haladie with hide sheaths, a narrow stiletto with brass-mounted scabbard and other types. 525 grams total, 22.2-37.5 cm
From the family collection of a Maida Vale lady, UK. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
Circa 14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Each with a sturdy square-section tang, narrow barbed head with midrib. 98 grams total, 15.5-16 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.
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.
