Luristan Bronze Dagger

A complete pair of lamellar greaves, anatomically formed protection featuring curved, overlapping metal plates (lames), the knee area having large plates and cut-outs at the sides to enable better movement; the left greave consists of nineteen overlapping U-shaped metal strips, whilst the right consists of twenty, each with two rivets at each end of every strip. 1.8 kg total, 45-50.5 cm



Acquired on the Munich art market in the 1990s. From a South German private collection. German export licence no.15771. Accompanied by an academic report by Prof. Dr Phil. Peter Rothenhöfer and Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13540-263658.

A close example in construction technique and material is an arm guard (manica) from Newstead (Trimontium). The heavy armoured cavalrymen (cataphractarii) were often protected entirely on arms and legs, as shown by the Dura Europos graffito and echoed in the words of Nazianzius describing the clibanarii of Maxentius (Pan., XXII,5ff.): 'In the army they are called clibanarii, the men are covered in the upper part, an armour (lorica) which extends down to the horses’chest (pectora equorum) and hang to their forelegs protects them from the injury of a wound without impending their gait…' Nazanzius speaks of an ostentatio armorum (display of armour) and of operti ferro exercitus (army covered with iron). A long splint-armour gauntlet with metal staves had already begun to appear as early as the third century in the Roman army. It had an Iranian origin and is typical of Eurasian horse people.

Comprising: curved single-edged blade with thick back and scooped tip; curved grip with bell-shaped guard and repoussé sleeve with floral detailing; wooden core carved at the open end to represent dense foliage in detailed openwork with recurved finial; wooden scabbard with sheet metal sleeve and ornamented frog to match the grip. 755 grams, 72 cm



From the collection of Mr Carlos Bahamonde, Manchester, UK.

Comprising a waisted, leaf-shaped two-edged blade with incised detailing, carved wooden hilt with integral crossguard, end of the tang bent over at the top; leather sheath with moulded ribbing, twisted leather thong forming a thick suspension loop and leather-covered knop forming a chape. 81 grams, 19.5 cm



From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.