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LOT 0295
Luristan Bronze Armour Belt with Double Scroll Terminals
9TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
8 3/4 in. (330 grams, 22 cm).
A broad hammered military belt or cuirass band with plain surface, the terminals shaped as a double spiral ornament, holes in the centre of both ends for fastening. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
Cf. Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, in Russian, for similar belts from Luristan with decorated surfaces (plate LIX, nos.19-20).
FootnotesThe rich and noble aristocrats of Luristan, Elamites, Hurrians, Lullubians, Kutians, and Kassites, went to battle splendidly equipped and used magnificent bronze armours. For metal sheets used for quiver plaques and bronze protective belts or shields, they used the hammering technique (Čakoškāri).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0295
Luristan Bronze Armour Belt with Double Scroll Terminals
Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
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Viking Age and Later Iron Axehead Group
10th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Mainly comprising socketted axeheads and adzes, adze-axes, wedges and other items. 8.45 kg total, 12-30 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
Slavic battle-axes also came into use in Scandinavia, especially in the Eastern part of Gotland, Denmark and Sweden. There were narrow-bladed types, described as being very light. Another characteristic of some of the Eastern axes was an extra long hammer or more rarely a secondary blade protruding from the back of axehead. -
Eastern Viking Period Iron Bearded Axe-Hammer
Circa 11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
With a narrow straight bearded blade enlarged in the lower side, rounded hammer-section shank to the rear. 427 grams, 23 cm
Ex private North American collection, California, USA, 1970s-1990s.
The more commonly used weapons of the Finno-Ugrian people were axes, commonly found in all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Iron axeheads of this typology show a sub-trapezoidal asymmetrical blade. -
Large Transcaucasian Armour Belt Clasp
1st century B.C.-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,960
Openwork belt fastening-plate comprising: square frame with parallel bands of ropework, a tall conical boss with basal flange at each corner; central figure of an advancing horse with head bowed, hollow to the reverse, with braided halter to the neck and bridle to the muzzle; incised ring-and-dot motif to shoulder and hip; above the horse's back a small quadruped with head turned to face the viewer, triangular muzzle and two curved horns (perhaps an ibex); openwork vegetation around the beasts and between the horse's legs, long-tailed animal gripping the halter (perhaps a squirrel); fixing loop and triangular catch to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 752 grams total, 24.5 cm high including stand
German art market. European private collection, 1970s-early 2000s. Acquired from the above; thence by descent. Private collection, London, UK. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12284-221444.
Many bronze belt fittings of this type are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, (Muscarella, 1988, items 581-4). Muscarella (p.440) notes that a total of 181 were known at the time of his publication (1988).
