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LOT 0241
Luristan Bronze Sword with 'Ear' Pommel
10TH-9TH CENTURY B.C.
26 in. (1.17 kg, 66 cm).
Comprising a long tapering blade, rectangular-section hilt with raised circular bosses, horned crescent-shaped guard curved to accept the blade and a large bifurcated pommel formed as two ear-lobes with ribbed joining shank.
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, Cat.45,46, for type.
FootnotesThis kind of sword was entirely made of cast bronze. They were characterised by an 'ear' pommel and raised mid-rib on the blade, square shoulders and rectangular, open guard. The handle was cast on the blade. The square and solid sectioned handle has bossed with reinforcements which allow a better grip.
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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Post Medieval Fencing Foil Pair
Circa 1900 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Each with a long and narrow blade, the longer of square section, the shorter rectangular, each fitted with traditional slender, straight hilt, guard and finger-ring. 657 grams total, 85-106 cm
Acquired from Czerny's Auctions, Italy, 2016, lot 280. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of Czerny's invoice and listing. -
English Medieval Iron Kidney Dagger
Late 15th-early 16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Comprising a single-edged blade, whittle tang and cylindrical grip terminating in a bulbous openwork pommel. 178 grams, 31 cm
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
Carried universally throughout Europe, the kidney dagger or ballock dagger (dague a rognons) seems to have been used by all classes of society. Early effigies and brasses prove that the ballock dagger was a knightly weapon. Later on, the more elaborate daggers suggest that it was also a weapon of the emerging merchant and artisan classes. Of course there are also some very simple and crude examples which would probably have been used by the peasants. -
Neo-Assyrian 'Axel Guttmann' Bronze Belt Section Group
9th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Comprising two belt sections, each perforated around the edges for attachment: one with a repoussé display of alternating lions leaping towards warriors on horseback, leaping horned bulls and archers standing in horse-drawn war chariot; one fragment with articulate loop; the other folding over on itself, with repoussé display of helmetted warriors on horseback, alternating with warriors driving horse-drawn chariots; Urartian or Assyrian. 845 grams total, 30.5-35 cm
Ex Axel Guttmann collection, with reference no.AG R 244. 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.11760-203204.