Luristan Bronze Short Sword

Biconical in profile with reserved 'thunderbolt' motif to two faces; old inked collector's reference '130'. 59 grams, 37 mm



Found near St Albans (Verulamium), UK. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The missiles of ovoid shape belong to type Ia of the Völling classification. The sling (funda) with its lead missiles (plumbea pondera or glandae) and stone (lapides) was used by special funditores, illustrated on Trajan’s Column where they are simply dressed in broad tunics with no armour, but carry a shield. A fold in their cloak, or sagulum, acted as an ammunition bag. The effectiveness of the slingers was unquestionable and much appreciated, especially against elephants. Celsus, writing towards the end of the 2nd century A.D., described how a slingshot wound was more dangerous and harder to treat than one inflicted by an arrow.

A triangular section curved narrow blade, broad neck, socket with triangular flanges. 486 grams, 14.5 cm



Ex North American private collection, 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

The bowl forged from a single piece and fitted with removable cheek-pieces; the dome divided into two halves by a carinated ridge, the peaked crown separated from the lower helmet wall by an indented ridge; cut-outs for ears and eyes with raised edges; short, angular neck-guard and short nose-guard extending to the eyebrows; the cheek-pieces with contoured front edge, holes for a chin-strap; remains of textile on the left side of the bowl; accompanied by a display stand. 2.15 kg total, 43 cm high including stand



From the collection of T.K., Germany, 1970s. Acquired in 1992 by Mr R.K. Acquired by the present owner on the UK art market. 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.12782-240166. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Hinged cheek-pieces, like in our specimen, appeared in Thracia during the 4th century, but prototypes from the Pontic area and wider Greece show them already in use in the 5th century B.C. The traces of textile on the left part of our helmet show that it was stored inside a protective item -perhaps a case or bag – guarding it against atmospheric agents or possible damage when not in use.