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LOT 1030
Luristan Bronze Dirk
CIRCA 11TH CENTURY B.C.
13 3/4 in. (14 3/4 in.) (554 grams total, 35 cm (37.5 cm including stand)).
With heavy penannular rib, tapering triangular blade and round shoulders, flanged hilt with straight grip, widening to a fan-shaped pommel; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceEx P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s.
LiteratureCf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, s. cat 12, for type.
FootnotesThese short daggers and dirks were mainly cast in one piece, and especially the penannular rib was cast on at the same time with handle and blade according to Medvedskaya. On the contrary, Moorey said that the penannular rib was later cast on the dirk, possibly to strengthen a weak point at the junction of hilt and blade.
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Medieval Iron Crossbow Bolt Group
Circa 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Mainly comprising socketted bolts with tapering a facetted square-section tips. 798 grams total, 5.7-10 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Avar-Byzantine Silver-Gilt Sword Belt Mount Group
7th-9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Comprising three belt mounts later remounted onto brown leather comprising: a rectangular strap end with rounded terminal, decorated with granulated borders, lozenges and chevrons; two roughly D-shaped mounts with apex flourish and waisted sides, also decorated with granulated lozenges and chevrons. 26.5 grams, 12.2 cm long
Fine condition.
Acquired in the 1980s-1990s. Ex an important central London gallery, London W1.
This type of belt element, decorated with granulation, is present in the Avar graves of the second half of the 7th century, and was most likely produced in the workshops of the Eastern Roman Empire, from where they reached the Avar lands as imperial gifts (tomb of Kunbàboni) or spoils of war. They were part of multiple belts, to which sabres and knives were attached, commonly used among Avars, Bulgars and Romans during the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. -
Luristan Bronze Horse Bit with Horses
11th-8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
The cheekpieces formed as stylised horses with small ears, elongated heads and long tails, a circular opening to the body for the bar to pass through, two loops to the body and two spurs to the reverse. 654 grams, 21 cm wide
Ex Paris collection. French gallery, Paris, 1990-2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11975-210127
In Luristan, horses were usually buried with a bronze horse-bit in their mouths, as shown by finds from Sarkishti, where the horses’ teeth were stained green.
