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LOT 1452
Luristan Heavy Bronze Axehead
13TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.
7 3/4 in. (1.28 kg, 19.5 cm).
With broad tapering blade and curved edge, wide socket, hammer-face to rear. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceAcquired on the UK art market before 2000.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
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Viking Age Iron Bearded Axe-Hammer
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
With a curved blade and swept chin, narrow neck, flanged socket and hammer extension to the rear with domed head. 310 grams, 15 cm
Ex North American collection, 1970s-1990s. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Piriform in profile with domed mouth, circumferential band of impressed arcading to the shoulder. 380 grams, 11.5 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'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Mesopotamian Bronze Javelin Head
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
With foliate blade, rhomboidal in section, raised mid-rib, medium length stem widening at its base and forming a small stop, quadrangular section tang with bent terminal. 191 grams, 45.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The specimen belongs to the category of tripartite spears with long pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. They seem to be a Mesopotamian and Susian (Elamite) variant, and this type also includes decorated blades, like the spear from Tello with the inscription 'King of Kish'.