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LOT 1417
Luristan Bronze Spearhead Blade
14TH-10TH CENTURY B.C.
18 1/4 in. (45 grams, 46.5 cm).
With rounded shoulders and square-sectioned mid-rib running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.628, no.275, for type.
FootnotesThe spearhead belongs to the type VI spearhead of the Khorasani classification. It is characterised by a long blade and short tang, slightly rounded shoulders and pronounced midrib. Similar weapons were excavated by Prof. Negahban in the royal cemetery of Marlik.
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LOT 1417
Luristan Bronze Spearhead Blade
Estimate £250 - 350€290 - 410 (for guidance only)$340 - 470 (for guidance only)
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Luristan Bronze Spearhead
Early 2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
Having foliate blade with central rib and slender shoulders, short rectangular shaft and tang with a bent end. 412 grams, 42.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
A number of similar blades, some considered to be spearheads and others to be daggers, all with bent tang, derived from Tepe Hissar Culture III. Some of them, like our specimen, have a button terminal, some others have a plain, pointed terminal. The general dating of these specimens is fixed to the early 2nd millennium B.C. -
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Luristan Bronze Dagger
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
With ogival blade featuring a square sectioned mid-rib, tubular handle with two horizontal grooves of circular shape and disc pommel. 338 grams, 31.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The dagger represents an uncommon type with its disk pommel and short grip but with a foliate blade of a spearhead. Similar types were already visible in the Mesopotamian reliefs of early 19th century, but pommel disc daggers and foliate blades are a combination that was archaeologically documented on Caucasian daggers until the 9th century B.C., employed by the Urartian warriors. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Piriform missile with domed filler-hole, petal-motifs radiating from the filler hole with annulets below, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 509 grams, 10.7 cm
From a specialist London, UK, arms and armour collection, 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.
