Loading, please wait...
LOT 1449
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
CIRCA 1000 B.C.
3 1/8 - 4 3/8 in. (84 grams total, 8-11.2 cm).
Each with an elongated, triangular shape with barbed shoulders, raised midrib and quadrangular spiked tang. [6, No Reserve]
ProvenanceUK private collection before 2000.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a London gentleman.
See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, figures 454 and 455, p.741, for the type.
FootnotesThis type of arrowhead came in different varieties and sizes: some of them have barbed shoulders, some rounded shoulders, but both the types had a raised midrib.
CONDITIONTimeLine 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.
-
Arab 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Piriform body decorated with concentric circles inside a horizontal band, raised ornamental neck, with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 430 grams, 12 cm
From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s.
The Arabs made good use of these weapons. Their efficiency was described in the account of the siege of Akka in 1189, given by the contemporary historian Ibn al-Athir. He tells how the Christians exercised their engineering skills and built mighty siege towers. The situation was hopeless for the defending Arabs until a man from Damascus showed up, because he knew how to produce Greek Fire: ‘To trick the Christians he first threw some vessels with naphtha and other things, which were not set on fire, upon one of the siege towers, and it was without power. The Christians...climbed the top of the siege tower...the man from Damascus waited until the contents of the vessels were spread all over. When the moment came, he threw a new pot, which was set on fire. In a few moments the fire was spread all over, and the siege tower was eaten up by the flames. The fire was spread in such a hurry that the Christians could not manage to climb down from the siege tower. Men, weapons, everything was eaten up by the flames.’ -
Jacobean 'Published' Musket and Pistol Powder Measure Collection
17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
Including larger types with everted rim and smaller drum-shaped types. 331 grams total, 23-48 mm
Found Hertford End, Essex, UK. From the collection of the famous author, writer and speaker, Gordon Bailey, Essex, UK; formed since 1968. -
Luristan Bronze Short Dagger with Integral Hilt
14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
A short sword or dagger with slender triangular blade, low round midrib, penannular guard, scooped shoulders, columnar grip with three gusseted hoops, truncated-conical pommel decorated with parallel horizontal circles. 477 grams, 42.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
These kind of bronze daggers or dirks, typical of Marlik culture, were cast in a one piece mould according to Negahban, although in some specimens the penannular guard was later cast into the blade. The separate sets of encircling ribs on the grips are again typical of swords from the Marlik area.
