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LOT 1365
Large North-Western Persian Bronze Sword Blade
11H-7TH CENTURY B.C.
17 1/4 in. (385 grams, 44 cm).
With prominently curved guard extending out from the ricasso partly framing the hilt, thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.99-100, for similar.
FootnotesThe hilt of such swords was made separately and unfortunately is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar daggers had a northern Iranian background and excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti. Their chronology ranges from the late 2nd millennium B.C. to the 7th century B.C.
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LOT 1365
Large North-Western Persian Bronze Sword Blade
Estimate £180 - 240€210 - 280 (for guidance only)$240 - 320 (for guidance only)
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Roman Bronze Belt Mount Group
2nd-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Comprising: a rectangular plaque with stepped void openwork and scrolled ends; a rectangular mount with rectangular and circular voids; a piriform mount with central void, trefoil to the interior; pierced twice for attachment; a pendant with broad loop, D-shaped plaque with three-lobed void. 70 grams total, 40-74 mm
Acquired before 1980. Ex London, UK collector. Property of a Scottish collector, acquired in 2013.
Belt of Antonine Age incorporated openwork designs, many of which show traces of Celtic decorative influence. According to Bishop & Coulston, these fittings were recognisable as the prototypes for those excavated in the 3rd century Roman military sites. -
North West Persian Short Sword with Blood Channels
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £250 - 350 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £125
With short tang for an organic hilt, the blade showing multiple grooves forming a pronounced mid-rib spanning roughly more than three-quarters of the blade; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.18 kg total, 45.5 cm (49 cm including stand)
Ex P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s.
Luristan was hardly an ethnic or political entity, but the people of Luri had relations through warfare and traded with Sumerians, Lullubi, Assyrians, Babylonians and Elamites over a long period of time, spanning from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ruling elites of warrior horsemen were buried with their weapons and horses. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Piriform body with domed filler-hole; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 580 grams, 12.5 cm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. 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.
