Loading, please wait...
LOT 1478
Luristan Bronze Dirk
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 1/8 in. (355 grams, 43.5 cm).
Blade with single median rib, crescent-shaped pommel, ridged grip and pseudo-penannular guard embossed over the junction between the hilt and the blade.
ProvenanceEx Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
LiteratureCf. Mahboubian, H., Art of the Ancient Iran, London, 1997, no.385a, for similar.
FootnotesThese dirks were integrally cast. Moorey, Gordon and Khorasani created a classification of bladed weapons, according to which daggers are edged weapons no greater than 36cm in length, dirks (short swords) are between 36cm and 50cm in length, and swords are edged weapons greater than 50cm in length.
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:
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.
-
Ottoman Iron Dagger with Bone Hilt
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Broad iron blade with reinforcing corrugations, inlaid brass ornament; bone scales to the hilt with fixing studs; scabbard with wooden core, leather sleeve, bronze frog and chape; fastened with wire stitching; narrow pocket to reverse to accept a smaller companion knife. 683 grams, 58 cm
Private collection, UK. -
Medieval Knight's Iron Hand-and-a-Half Sword with Inscribed Bronze Pommel
Germany, 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £14,300
Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVa, cross style 8, bronze pommel style J (recessed); strongly tapering, pointed blade of ‘flattened diamond’ section, cross style tapering gradually outward to sharply downturned tips; long grip with slight taper, disc pommel with chamfered edges and a potent cross in the centre surrounded by an inscription (on both sides) '+ IH SU + AAWM'. 1.25 kg, 113 cm
From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century. 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.13034-24799.
Some wheel pommels of this date have engraved, or inset roundels with armorial or devotional emblems, and a number of sword blades of this date bear religious inscriptions in the form of a prayer. The inscription on the pommel between the two potent crosses is intriguing. The letters 'IH SU' are a clear reference to the name of the Saviour, and can be translated as Ihesu-Jesus, or also Ihesu Merci (Jesus have mercy), a simple prayer for the person carrying the sword. The letters 'A.A. W.M.' could refer to the name of the owner of the sword (WM = Wilhelm) or the maker of the weapon. It is difficult to consider the letters as an abbreviation of the prayer ‘Ave Maria’, usually shortened in the German medieval inscriptions as A.M. -
Large Iron Age Celtic Spearhead
Circa 450 B.C.-50 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
With long slender leaf-shaped blade and short tubular socket. 550 grams, 48.1 cm
Acquired on the German art market. Private collection, Germany. Ex Axel Guttmann collection and acquired through Hermann Historica in 2010. Kept in the UK from 2016.
