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LOT 1493
Luristan Bronze Socketted Axehead
CIRCA 2200-1600 B.C.
4 in. (246 grams, 10 cm).
Curving blade and a tubular socket with decorative collars. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceFrom the collection of Martin Doyle, Leverstock, UK, 1980s-2000s.
LiteratureCf. Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, pl.XXI, nos.51,67, for the type; Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, cat.344, for similar.
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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Cuman Silver Military Sceptre
12th-13th century A.D.Estimate: £15,000 - 20,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £7,500
Comprising a slender tapering body in graduated gilded sheet-silver sleeves with rolled rims; at base, a bronze ferrule with a squared finial; at top, a mushroom-shaped boss with lateral attachment rivet; restored. 353 grams, 56 cm
Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13377-259199. -
Medieval Iron Hand-and-Half Sword with Bronze Pommel with Coat of Arms
13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Comprising: two-edged lenticular-section piled blade (Oakshott's Type XII) with gentle taper overall to a narrow point; quillons round in section with taper to ends and hooked finial; broad flat-section tang tapering to the upper end; disc pommel of Oakshott's Type K with scooped border to each face, central disc with beaded rim, inner heater-shaped panel with reserved cross potent. 1.32 kg, 101 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.13303-257659. -
Turco-Mongol 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Piriform in profile with a stepped neck, incised decoration and three raised lugs; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 424 grams, 17 cm
From an important specialist collection, London, UK, 1990s. 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.