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LOT 0226
Luristan Dirk with Cuneiform Inscription
1125-1104 B.C.
15 3/4 in. (188 grams, 40 cm).
A bronze dirk or dagger with raised flanges to the grip, possibly to accept organic inserts, cuneiform script over two lines inscribed to the blade below the grip on both faces; blade repaired.
Provenancewith a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s.
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.11591-199676.
Cf. identical type in Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.377, cat.6.
FootnotesThis is a dagger with an inscription of King Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon, 1125-1104 B.C. The inscription is identical to those on four other bronze daggers (reportedly from Luristan), three of which are in the Foroughi collection and one in the Iran Bastan museum (National Museum of Iran, inventory no.626/1626).
The Type IIIa bronze dirk of the Medveskaya classification belongs to a series of weapons bearing the same engraved inscription in Babylonian cuneiform script which reads: 'It belongs to Nabu, the King of Kiohatti, the King of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad'. It was cast in one piece (hilt and blade) and probably formed an endowment to the royal guard.
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LOT 0226
Luristan Dirk with Cuneiform Inscription
Estimate £8,000 - 10,000€9,280 - 11,600 (for guidance only)$10,800 - 13,500 (for guidance only)
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Western Asiatic Paddle-Shaped Axehead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A copper-alloy axehead with curved cylindrical butt and socket, waisted neck and D-shaped cutting edge; incised scale decoration to the socket. 353 grams, 12 cm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.
These kind of axes had a simple but aesthetic form, with the round socket placed at the edge of the rounded butt which tapered smoothly to a flat, splayed crescent-shaped blade. -
Luristan Horse Harness Cheekpiece
11th-8th century B.C.Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £200
A bronze cheek-piece element in the form of a righthand side bar, surmounted by two loops for additional straps, ending in a lion's head at the front, the other extremity bending outwards and ending with a conical tip, remains of the iron bar visible on the sides; once belonging to an articulate bit. 130 grams, 13.5 cm wide
Fine condition.
Acquired mid 1980s to early 1990s. Private family collection formed in London, UK.
The association of Psalia in the shape of a bar and with an articulated bit is documented in Assyria, in Media and in central Iran starting from the 10th century B.C., but the zoomorphic elements of this specimen suggest that it was produced in Luristan. The use of articulated bits, which moved inside the horse's mouth, exerting a minimal pressure on the reins, allowed for better control of the mount. -
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Post Medieval Gauntlet Pair from a Suit of Armour
17th century A.D.Estimate: £600 - 800 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
A matched pair of iron mitten gauntlets from a tilting armour, each comprising a conical tubular wrist and ropework border in two sections permanently attached with rivets; articulating wrist section of four lames and curved finger section of four larger curved lames; hinged thumb to the side; some remnants of the original leather backing. 1.88 kg total, 33.5-34 cm high
Acquired London art market in early 1960s. From the private collection of the late Walter Steinberg, London, UK.
