Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1114

Luristan Bronze Dirk

CIRCA 1000 B.C.

14 3/4 in. (264 grams, 37.5 cm).

Composed of a leaf-shaped blade with a raised penannular rib and slot below the shoulder connected to the grip with lateral flanges and integral pommel, recessed to accept an organic insert.

Provenance

From an old English collection, formed in the 1980s.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.

Literature

Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tuebingen, 2006, p.380, Cat.12, inventory no.655.

Footnotes

This dirk, cast in one piece mould, belongs to the daggers that Medvedskaya believes support the thesis that majority of them were cast in one piece. However, there are examples where the penannular grip was cast on later on the dagger or dirk.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine 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.

LOT 1114

Luristan Bronze Dirk

Sold for (Inc. bp): £338

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
    Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
    9th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450

    Comprising a double-edged cutting blade with tapering fullers and hefty tang; the bronze cross guard in Jellinge style with dragon head finials and a central human face to the lower edge; the pommel with seven lobes; accompanied by a bronze openwork chape with central bird motif decorated with stamped ring-and-dot design. 900 grams, 89.5 cm



    From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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.11821-206859.

    The blade of the sword is very similar to Petersen Type K; the hilt is a typical Type K, but having seven rather than five lobes to the pommel. The chape, the parallels of which are mostly of late 10th and early 11th centuries, is probably a later addition, possibly reworked to be fitted to the sword.

    Lot Details

  • North Western Persian Bronze Arrowhead Group
    North Western Persian Bronze Arrowhead Group
    12th-10th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £124

    Comprising six tanged arrowheads, five with large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, one with oval shoulders, all with sharp central groove, cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft. 145 grams total, 8-15 cm



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

    Some of these arrowheads seems to belong to the type V, subcategory type C, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders.

    Lot Details

  • North-West Persian Bronze Dagger with Horns
    North-West Persian Bronze Dagger with Horns
    Circa 1st millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £150

    With curved 'horns' projecting on either side at top of waisted grip, blade with flat mid-rib. 249 grams, 41.5 cm



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

    The Luristani 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 B.C. 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.'

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list