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LOT 1124
Luristan Bronze Sword Hilt
2ND MILLENIUM B.C.
6 1/2 in. (492 grams, 16.5 cm).
With crescent-shaped guard to accept blade, square-section grip with central rib to two sides and four evenly-spaced studs to the other two, and a conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel pierced on three sides.
ProvenanceAcquired in the early 1990s.
Ex Guernsey collection.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
Cf. Khorasani, M. M., Arms and Armor from Iran: The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, pp.393-4, for type.
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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Western Asiatic Copper Flat Axehead
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Curved cutting edge and tongue-shaped mounting blade to the rear. 180 grams, 18.1 cm
English collection, 1990s. Ex North London gallery. -
Byzantine Ceramic 'Greek Fire' Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £163
Composed of a piriform body with 'feather' design and eccentrically placed domed mouth; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, and used as a hand grenade; chipped foot. 613 grams, 17 cm
Collected before 1970. Ex gallery of C.M., UK. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Roman Style Bronze Cuirass
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Modelling a muscular male torso with naturalistic anatomical detailing. 1.49 kg, 53 cm high
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
