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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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Viking Period Bearded Type Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
An iron axehead with broad curved blade and spur to the chin, narrow neck, deep socket with lateral spurs and extended plate to the reverse. 777 grams, 20 cm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector.
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Western Asiatic Socketted Spearhead
9th-7th century B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
A bronze spearhead with short conical socket, triangular-shaped blade with prominent central rib. 81 grams, 15 cm long
Fine condition.
Earlier 20th century Cologne collection, Germany. London Mayfair gallery, UK. Dr D.G. collection, 1990s-2019. Accompanied by an old typed catalogue slip with provenance. -
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12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £108
A bronze spearhead tapering from shoulders to rounded tip; the short tang tapering to end for insertion into a shaft. 375 grams, 42 cm
Fine condition.
Abelita family collection, 1980-2015.
This is a type 2 spearhead with a long blade and short tang. The elongated blade had two rivet heads at its base, here effaced by a later restoration. Similar pieces have been excavated in Marlik and Amlash.
