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LOT 1389
Luristan Bronze Blade
1200-1100 B.C.
14 3/8 in. (193 grams, 36.5 cm).
With a long pointed triangular blade and a short tang, two rivet holes at the base of the blade.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.632, no.283, for type.
FootnotesThe 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.'
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LOT 1389
Luristan Bronze Blade
Estimate £250 - 350€290 - 410 (for guidance only)$340 - 470 (for guidance only)
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Western Asiatic Bronze Sword
Late 2nd-early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
The hilt with mushroom-shaped pommel, round grip, crescentic guard with double horizontal bars, long sloping blade with rounded mid-ridge. 743 grams, 48 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
This category of swords has been classified by Khorasani as 'swords with a mushroom pommel' and are usually characterised by a solid-cast hilt with a penannular guard, a ribbed or variously decorated grip and the conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel. Usually the blade is multi-fullered and tapers to a sharp tip. Moorey considers them to be from the end of the 2nd millennium B.C. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Blade
Circa 1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Tapering with rounded shoulders and flattened mid-ribs, tapered square sectioned tang pierced at the tip. 170 grams, 26.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
Moorey, Gordon and Khorasani created a classification of bladed weapons, according to which daggers are edged weapons no greater than 36cm in length, dirks (short swords) are between 36cm and 50cm in length, and swords are edged weapons greater than 50cm in length. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Piriform in profile with domed mouth, circumferential band of impressed arcading to the shoulder. 380 grams, 11.5 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. 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. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
