Loading, please wait...
Details
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.
Provenance
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Literature
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.
Footnotes
The 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.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
LOT 1365
Large North-Western Persian Bronze Sword Blade
Estimate £180 - 240€210 - 280 (for guidance only)$240 - 320 (for guidance only)
RELATED LOTS
-
'The Customs House' Tudor Inscribed Iron Hammer-Head
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Octagonal in section with one tapering end and one flat, circular end; square punch marks to one face in a pattern: '10B'. 2.82 kg, 24.2 cm
Found Thames foreshore, Customs House, London, UK, on Thursday 9th November 2006. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.LON-D6B085. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
With broad shoulder, short neck, domed square-shaped lip and conical base, broad medial band, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 472 grams, 10.7 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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'.
The effectiveness of these grenades was much lower than the fire liquid thrown by the siphons. They were thrown by hand as it is evident by the presence of some sort of handle on the body of some of them to better allow the grip of the object (Raimondo, 2000 Plate 11a; fig. 4, c-d). Nothing excludes that they were also launched at more long distance with catapults or other war engines. The presence of a fuse for triggering the explosion is evidenced by the narrow mouth of the largest part of the grenades. -
Wavy Blood Channelled Bronze Short-Sword
Late 2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
A North-Western Persian dagger or short-sword blade with rounded shoulders and thick mid-rib with undulated blood-channels running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole. 258 grams, 34 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The Luri people produced a quantity of fine metalwork, which according to Dr Khorasani, could be due to a settled period which arose as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 BC. According to Khorasani 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150-1050 BC.'.
