Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group

Comprising a full face shield with broad wavy bars and a small mouth opening, a wide hinged visor; the visor and the front section of the helmet secured by large hook-and-eye closures on the right-hand side; the crown with a tall ridge running from front to back, small collar for protecting the neck. 1.14 kg, 25 cm high



Acquired from Andrew Bennett in 2016. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a payment confirmation from Andrew Bennett, dated 1st June 2016. 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 search certificate number no. 11768-203986.

This variation of the burgonet helmet is thought to have originated in the Savoy region of southeast France, and was very popular with heavy cavalry (Reiters) serving with a variety of Continental armies of the period. The term Savoyard is a reference to a large number of these helmets that the Swiss captured from the troops of the Duke of Savoy during an unsuccessful assault on the city of Genoa in 1602. The undulated bars and the small mouth of the visor are all indicative of the Savoyard style. The hinges on the side allowed the front of the helmet as a whole to be lifted away from the rear, aiding the wearer to place it over his head.

Featuring a circular opening to receive fuse and plug to one face; hollow-formed. 3.9 kg, 11 cm diameter

Fine condition.

Acquired after 2000. Property of a Buckinghamshire, UK, gentleman.

The shrapnel shell is named after Lieutenant-General Henry Shrapnel (1761-1842), a British officer who devised the hollow, gunpowder-filled ball that was fused to explode either in the air or on the ground with the resulting ball fragments proving to be an effective anti-personnel weapon; later types were filled with lead musket balls and powder to make the weapon even more effective against troops; such projectiles were used both with field artillery cannon and with mortars.

Converted from a flintlock of about 3/4" bore with lock modified having 77cm (30¾") rifled barrel swamped to muzzle with set and hair triggers, with full wood stock and shaped butt with patch compartment and sliding top and fitted with brass butt plate, trigger guard, ferrules and engraved side plates and a bone fore-end; the wood ramrod with bone tip; fitted with hinged sling loops; action working well to half cock, full cock and set. 3.70 kg, 116 cm



Acquired from M J Noble, UK, 2015. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copy of an invoice and information.

Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the Firearms Act, 1968, to be held as a curiosity or ornament. No license required but buyer must be over 18 years of age. Overseas bidders should note that, due to UK regulations governing export of all firearms, overseas buyers will need to make arrangements for shipping this lot out of the UK directly, by air freight, with a specialist company or agent.