Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 1043

Luristan Sar-e Tabar Socketted Axehead

2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.

7 in. (465 grams, 18 cm).

A bronze axe with plain cylindrical socket and staff, off-set at the base, of simple undecorated shape with a long lentoid-section D-shaped blade with scooped profile.

Provenance

Earlier 20th century collection.
London Mayfair gallery, UK.
Dr D.G. collection, 1990s-2019.

Literature

Cf. Moorey, P.R.S., Catalogue of the ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, 1971, pl.1, items 4 and 5.

Footnotes

Many examples of bronze axeheads are attributed to the Luristan culture and various shapes have been discussed by different scholars. Moorey (1971, pp.39-41) shows similar axeheads, stating that the texts executed on some specimens have shown them made of arsenical bronze, and attributes them to the late 3rd millennium B.C. or 2nd millennium B.C., period in which this alloy was used abundantly.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine 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:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 1043

Luristan Sar-e Tabar Socketted Axehead

Estimate £200 - 300€230 - 350 (for guidance only)$270 - 410 (for guidance only)

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Luristan Horse Harness Cheekpiece
    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.

    Lot Details

  • Viking Period Bearded Axehead
    Viking Period Bearded Axehead
    Circa 9th-11th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £169

    A hand-forged iron axehead with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with lateral flanges and rectangular panel to the rear. 422 grams, 15.2 cm



    Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector.

    The axe appears to belong to the typology of Viking side axes of Wheeler type B (Wheeler III / Rygh 559). Usually these bearded axeheads (skeggöks) had a longer edge, designed to split tree trunks into planks and beams, or heads during the battle. Some of the bearded axes were known as halfÞynna öx, the neck on such 'half thin axe' was thinly forged, to make it lighter.

    Lot Details

  • Marlik Decorated Spearhead
    Marlik Decorated Spearhead
    13th-11th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £195

    A bronze spearhead with long blade and broad midrib with incised decoration to each side, rectangular-section bent tang, reinforced shaft with ribbed horizontal bands interspersed with bands of geometric motifs. 329 grams, 32.7 cm



    Ex S. Motamed collection. with Bellman's Auctions, 20th-26th June 2015, lot 2482. Property of a London gentleman.

    In this category (Type II of the Khorasani typology) the shaft has a tang with a bend towards the end. The blade has three fullers, and the shaft is usually engraved with diagonal lines. Similar pieces were excavated by Dr Negahban in Marlik.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list