Luristan Bronze Dagger

Single-edged crescent-shaped blade equipped with two curved pins with holes for attachment to a wooden shaft. 308 grams, 23.2 cm



Ex USA private collection, 1970s-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The blade belongs to the category of crock-backed blades, as classified by Flinders Petrie. More ancient fine Coptic examples are engraved with zigzag lines, a cross, fishes, and vine pattern. The iron halberd, viii, may be of some later date. The iconography of the medieval churches in Ethiopia suggest that these weapons were used as ceremonial halberds, and worn by guardsmen of rulers and bishops. A form similar to these halberds was used as a hoe in South Africa.

The leaf-shaped ovate blade with rounded, gently curved shoulders and raised midrib, flat rectangular-sectioned tang tapering to a bent end with a fastening button; in one specimen the tang is protruding from the 'blade sheath'. 507 grams total, 26-27.5 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Similar spearheads were excavated in the Marlik Royal cemetery by Dr Negahban, see for example in tomb 47, Trench XXIIE. They were the evolution of a typology which began much earlier in Mesopotamia and the fertile crescent, the type 4 of the Stronach classification, with straight tang and square section, usually thickened at the base with a button tang. The foliate blade was wide and exaggerated in some specimens excavated at Marlik.

With short, cylindrical socket to rear, narrow neck, flared blade with curved cutting edge; underside of the blade swept in a gentle curve; short flanges above and below the rear of the socket; decorated overall with finely engraved silver inlays forming two dragons and interlace patterns (probably not original); provided with a display stand. 390 grams, 15.7 cm (813 grams total, 26.2 cm high including stand)



Acquired 1982 in Kaliningrad and transported to Riga in 1986, moved to East Berlin in 1988, and again to Germany in 2000, then UK in 2014. Ex West London collection. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00141022. 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.12476-228759. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.