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LOT 1397
Luristan Bronze Sword Blade
LATE 2ND-EARLY 1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 3/8 in. (883 grams total including stand, sword: 44 cm).
A substantial leaf-shaped blade with raised midrib extending to a short tang, ribbed fullers with curved ends extending to the shoulders.
ProvenanceFrom London Mayfair gallery, 1990s.
LiteratureSee Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, s. cat 31, for type, complete with hilt; Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 2, London, 2004, item 36, p.33.
FootnotesLuristan was hardly an ethnic or political entity, but the people of Luri had relations through warfare and trade with Sumerians, Lullubi, Assyrians, Babylonians and Elamites in a large time period, spanning from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ruling elites of warrior horsemen were buried in the graves with their weapons and horses which are the main sources of the Luristan bronze weapons.
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LOT 1397
Luristan Bronze Sword Blade
Estimate £600 - 800€700 - 930 (for guidance only)$810 - 1,080 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
Piriform body with band of impressed roundels to the equator, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 564 grams, 11.3 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. 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. -
Elamite Socketted Spearhead
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £167
With tapering split socket, stepped shoulders and two-edged triangular head; pronounced midrib, bands of low-relief chevron and braid detailing, attachment pin. 180 grams, 28 cm
From a Mayfair, London, gallery, 1990s. -
Luristan 'Master of Animals' Bridle Bit
Circa 9th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £3,000 - 4,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,500
Comprising: a square-section bar with the ends scrolled in opposite directions; matched pair of outward-facing detailed openwork castings, each cheek-piece showing a god with a horned head above a figural scene with two opposed human figures in profile advancing towards a column with profile animal heads and other detailing; accompanied by a custom-made stand. 1.17 kg total, 19.5 cm wide including stand
From an old private Japanese collection. Acquired from Shimojo Art, Tokyo, Japan, in 2014. From the private collection of a North West London, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by a previous collection photograph, and the original official Japanese cultural export certificate issued by the Director of Art and Curatorial Division, Cultural Properties Department, Agency for Cultural Affairs, and invoice, dated 7th November 2014. 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 a search certificate number no.12050-217397.
In the Mesopotamian world the forces of chaos are often represented by animals and the gods are seen as the restraining force to these unpredictable powers that could harm the human world. The presence of horns on these figures distinguishes them as being divine and is often found being worn by kings who saw themselves as close to the gods.
