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LOT 1361
Luristan Bronze Dirk
CIRCA 1000 B.C.
15 3/8 in. (231 grams, 39 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. [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. 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.
FootnotesThis 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.
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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Post Medieval Weaponry Display
17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Mixed group comprising: a petronel; lead musket ball and pistol shot in various gauges; three powder-charge containers; mounted on a display frame. 489 grams total, 13 cm wide including stand
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. -
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Viking Age Bronze Sword Scabbard Chape Collection
9th-11th century A.D.Estimate: £500 - 700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
Comprising: one heater-shaped with openwork raven motif to each face; one similar with openwork raven enmeshed in tendrils; one with fleur-de-lys to the centre of each upper edge and a lobed spur to each side; one with openwork quatrefoil to each face and knop finial to the apex. 145 grams total, 55-85 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
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Viking Age Iron Sword with Bronze Hilt
10th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
With a double-edged tapering blade, long tapering fullers and a narrow tang; boat-shaped bronze cross-guard with Jellinge Style decoration; the upper guard with similar ornament topped by a seven-lobed pommel. 675 grams, 88 cm
The blade is generally complete and in good conditions, although traces of corrosion are visible on the surface and on the edges; both cutting edges show strong traces of employ on battlefield, with battle-nicks along their length; pitting from possible water depot; still-homogenous blade structure, with strong delamination and material losses visible on the original surface of the metal.
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.12011-213595.
This Couronian sword finds a good parallel with Baltic swords, used by Prussian, Couronians, Estonian and Lithuanian pagan warriors; see a sword once in the Prussian Museum, inventory V. Nr. 8368, from Janischken (Fig. 1,a); other clear parallels can be seen in Kazakevičius, 1996, figs.62-63 (fig.2) and Tomsons, 2012, fig.2 (Fig.3),3,7. The Curonian swords of this type, sometimes with animal head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from 10th to 13th century.
