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LOT 1372
Luristan Bronze Dirk
13TH-12TH CENTURY B.C. AND LATER
16 in. (284 grams, 40.5 cm).
Or a dagger with raised flanges to the grip, possibly to accept organic inserts fastened with three nails still in situ (?); later added cuneiform-like inscription and Babylonian Tiamat lion engraved to the blade below the grip on one face. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000.
From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Cf. the type in Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.377, cat.6.
FootnotesThe dirk belongs to Type IIIa bronze dirks of the Medveskaya classification. It was cast in one piece (hilt and blade).
CONDITIONTimeLine 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:
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Decorated Star-Shaped Macehead
Eastern European, circa 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With short thick triangular spikes, decorated with engraved concentric circles. 85 grams, 53 mm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
The polygonal mace evolved into the hexagonal winged mace. Originating in the east, this weapon spread across Eastern Europe during the 13th century A.D., and from there to the west. The winged mace, used by the western Europeans, was almost certainly based upon Eastern Roman or Islamic prototypes. It is relevant to note that the polygonal mace was widely used by the eastern cavalrymen (like Turkish and Mongols), during the 14th century A.D. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
10th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
Compressed spherical body, the upper part with impressed decoration consisting of two rows of Saint Andreas crossed inside a shield, with domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 382 grams, 10.2 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. 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. -
Heavy Western Asiatic Bronze Axehead
Late 3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With swept blade, large socket with shallow raised circumferential rib and a vertical rib to the rear. 741 grams, 14.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
In the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., the most widespread types of axes were those made for splitting and those for cutting. In the last third of this millennium there emerged a sharp differentiation between such axes. Such a sharp division by function should be associated with the influence of the Syro-Palestinian tradition. Such differentiation, in the absence of some multifunctional forms, can be observed from the end of the 4th millennium B.C. and during the 3rd millennium B.C.
