Large Heavy Luristan Bronze Axehead

On a rectangular background, shallow sockets and grooved eyebrows, elongated nose and face, mouth faintly indicated by a straight incised line, large, protruding ears; traces of beard under the chin, vertical lines representing hair; name engraved in Arabian letters beneath the chin; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 3.62 kg total, 27.1 cm including stand



UK collection, 1990s. Acquired on the UK art market, before 2000. Private collection, Mr M.V., a London-based businessman. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Within South Arabia, there was a well-developed ancient tradition of carving funerary sculptures from a calcite-alabaster stone. The eyes and eyebrows of the heads were usually inlaid or (like probably here) highlighted with red or black pigment. The figure is inscribed on the base with the name of the dedicant, or with the personal name of the dead person.

Each a crescent hoop with lateral collars and granule, long columnar drop formed as six columns of stacked granules with filigree braided bands to the outer face, graduated bulb finial; discoid cell above with inset replicant garnet cabochon and the hoops added later. 34.90 grams total, 91 mm each



From a North American gentleman's collection, 1980-1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12708-235755. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Comprising: a group of large tanged arrowheads, mainly of triangular type with mid-rib; one barbed example; four foliate blades and a single arrowhead with double points with stem and tang. 325 grams total, 8.8-15.3 cm



From the London art market, 1990s. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The most interesting specimen of the group is certainly the double-pointed arrowhead, belonging to the type II of Khorasani's classification. These arrowheads were made in cast bronze with a double point with stem and tang, located one above the other and positioned at right angles to each other (see also Muscarella, 1988, figs.411 and 418).