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Details
LOT 1401
Luristan Sara-Gorz Bronze Macehead
CIRCA 2000-1300 B.C.
8 3/4 in. (456 grams, 22.5 cm).
With long tubular shank and four hefty bulbs surrounding the shaft.
Provenance
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Accompanied by an earlier catalogue identification card.
Literature
See Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, item 333, for a similar example in polished heamatite.
Footnotes
This rare and unusual mace finds parallels with similar pieces published by Slotta, Vatandust, and Moorey. The dating varies between 21st and 14th century B.C. Western Iranian maces, especially the Luristan ones, were notable for the variety of different forms. According to Dr D. Nicolle the gorz or mace was primarily used as an armour breaking weapon since ancient times, and was very common on the Iranian plateau.
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