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LOT 1380
Luristan Copper Flat Axe
CIRCA 13TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
6 3/4 in. (168 grams, 17 cm).
Formed with a squared butt and flared cutting edge; flat in cross-section.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Evans, J., The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland, London, 1881, item 29; Schmidt, P.K. & Burgess, C.B., The Axes of Scotland and Northern England, Prähistorische Bronzefunde, Ab. IX, vol. 7, Munich, 1981, p.60.
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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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Drum-shaped body with stepped profile, bands of impressed rosette and other detailing, domed filler-hole, intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 914 grams, 14.6 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'.
This piece was a sort of a ceramic fire grenade, similar to the ones used by the Eastern Romans but of Turco-Mongol type. Apart from the use of manual flame-throwers, special corps of soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations, even in Burma. -
Luristan Arrowhead Collection
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Comprising forty-five arrowheads of various types, including triangular, lanceolate and leaf-shaped; mainly tanged, some barbed. 557 grams total, 3.2-17.1 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Phoenician Bronze Arrowhead with Inscription
Circa 12th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
With incised text to the midrib on one face, less well-defined characters to the reverse. 9.2 grams, 63 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
The arrowhead seems to carry a Proto-Aramaic or Phoenician inscription like many arrows found in the Levant and Israel. They are usually reporting proper names like ‘Suwar, retainer of Abday’. As far as the function of these arrowheads is concerned, we know that the name inscribed on them was the owner's because successive owner's names were incised on two palimpsest examples. The letters engraved upon our arrow seem to be in the Phoenician alphabet and read ḤŞ’Ḥ’ (arrow of…) on the reverse, and ’Š I Š Q (?) (man of…) on the obverse.
