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LOT 0338
Luristan Bronze Sword with Mushroom Pommel
LATE 2ND-EARLY 1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
23 1/4 in. (790 grams, 59 cm).
The hilt with mushroom-shaped pommel, grip decorated with horizontal flat grooves, crescentic guard, long blade with ridged mid-grip.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See a similar sword in Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003) in Russian, pl.XIV, no.40, from Luristan; Christie's, The Axel Guttmann Collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, part 1, London, 2002, item 24, p.27.
FootnotesThis category of swords has been classified by Khorasani as 'swords with a mushroom pommel' and are usually characterised by a solid-cast hilt with a penannular guard, a ribbed or variously decorated grip and a conical hollow-cast mushroom pommel. Usually the blade is multi-fullered and tapers to a sharp tip. Moorey considers them to be from the end of the 2nd millennium B.C. Gorelik extends the dating to the 8th-7th century B.C.
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AUCTIONS:
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Luristan Mace Head
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Of cylindrical shape, the upper section with alternating rectangular panels and vertical rows of three prominent spikes, short cylindrical shaft edged at top and bottom. 294 grams, 17 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Greek Bronze Arrowhead Collection
Circa 5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
Mainly socketted and triangular in section. 23 grams total, 15-49 mm
From a private Barnsley, UK, family collection. -
Viking Iron Sword with Three-Lobed Pommel
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,510
Comprising a two-edged blade with broad fuller and rounded tip, narrow lower guard with rounded outer ends, broad tang, lobed pommel of Type U with cocked-hat profile and lower guard, traces of silvering. 848 grams, 92 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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.12356-225922.
Petersen considered this type of Viking sword similar to the previous types R and S, but with differences in the pommel and cross-guard. The traces of silver ornaments on the guard and pommel are artistically consistent with archaeological examples of decorative work from the geographic region or estimated cultural point of origin, probably Eastern Scandinavia or the Baltic areas.
