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LOT 1475
Large Luristan Bronze Socketted Axehead
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
5 1/8 in. (1.05 kg, 13 cm).
With a slender, scooped blade, a round socket and shallow scooped depression to the upper face of the blade with thick curved edge; socket chipped.
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market before 2000.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
Cf.Engel, N. & Overlaet, B. et al., Bronzes de Luristan, enigmes de l'Iran Ancien, IIIe-Ier millenaire av.J.C., Paris, 2008, cat.8-12, pp.73ff, for type.
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LOT 1475
Large Luristan Bronze Socketted Axehead
Estimate £100 - 140€120 - 160 (for guidance only)$140 - 190 (for guidance only)
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Luristan Bronze Spearhead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With leaf-shaped blade, raised midrib and rounded shoulders, short neck and the square-section tapering tang with pointed tip. 373grams total, 40.5 cm
Ex Norri collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK, 1980s-1990s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Ovoid body with impressed ring to the shoulder, domed filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 251 grams, 84 mm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s onwards. 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. -
Greek Lead Slingshot of Alexander the Great
3rd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Biconical in profile with casting seam and reserved legend 'ΑΛ[EXANΔΡΟ]Υ.', the club of Herakles on the other side. 29.6 grams, 30 mm
Acquired on the German art market before 2000. Private collection, Munich, Germany.
The presence of the club of Herakles connects the slingshot with the Macedonian Dynasty. Similar slingshots were found in Miletos.