Large Medieval Bronze Dagger Pommel

Socketted with slight horizontal cast-in grooves on the shaft, foliate head with strong mid-rib, fastening hole on the socket. 166 grams, 34.7 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

These kinds of spearheads were realised by casting in a mould. They were of different lengths and used by Luristan, Hamadan, early Median and Achaemenid warriors.

Blade with a shallow median rib, crescentic pennannular guard, handle with pommel in the shape of a nail head. 151 grams, 30.5 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.

This is a type of blade rare among Luristan weapons. The simplest type that appeared to J. de Morgan and Godard in the first excavations of Luristan looked like this: a blade always featuring a median groove, a guard decorated with a crescent, and a round hilt with a nail-shaped head. The hilt was usually filled with organic material, such as wood, bone, or ivory.

Blade widened at the base, ribbed, conical socket with wooden remains. 277 grams total, 43 cm including stand (lance 25.8 cm)



From the famous arms and armour collection of Axel Guttmann (1944-2001), Berlin, Germany. Ex Hermann Historica, Munich, Germany, 4 May 2011, no.1783 (lot). From a private specialist collection, London, UK. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Hermann Historica catalogue pages.

The spear finds an almost identical parallel in two spearheads from Lavello, found associated with a Corinthian helmet and a sword, as part of Burial objects, dating back to around the middle of the 6th century BC. This type of hoplite weaponry was used by individual warriors, who, in Daunia (South Italic Apulia), while adopting Greek models, fought on horseback, according to a fighting style centred on the heroic duel between leaders.