Marlik Type Bronze Decorated Spearhead

With a long blade, broad midrib, rectangular-section long tang, engraved reinforced shaft and rounded shoulders. 481 grams, 43 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

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

With long tapered blade, rounded shoulders and broad flattened mid-rib, tapered square sectioned tang pierced at the tip. 298 grams total, 29.2 cm high including stand



Dr. T.J. Arne, Sweden, 1934. Private collection, Sweden, late 1930s. with Stockholm Auktionsverk, Stockholm, Sweden, 9 June 2014, lot 2613.

This tanged bronze blade from Luristan belongs to a category of Luristan swords still in use in the Achaemenid Period, as proved from a blade with a perished handle (probably bone or wood) of the same type, in the National Museum of Iran (2694/15633). Examples without inscriptions like our model have been classified by Grotkamp-Schepers in the Solingen Museum as pieces from Luristan.

Of Kunze Group VII, formed from two curved segments, each with a flared rim, nasal, raised panels to the upper section of the bowl, repoussé ridge forming curved brows, a recess for the ear to each side; star-shaped attachment to the top with slot for plumes; restored and with replica cheek pieces. 2.7 kg total, 42.5 cm high including stand

Restored, but in general good condition, rare details

Acquired in the 1970s. Ex private Austrian collection. The Kusmirek Collection, UK Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a report of metallurgical analytical results, written by metallurgist Dr Brian Gilmour of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11763-203979.

Among the Chalcidian helmet types, the fifth and last typology, corresponding to the Kunze group VII (Pflug, 1988, p.138), was characterised by the presence of detached cheek-guards. By the end of the 5th century BC, the fixed cheek-pieces had been entirely abandoned on the Chalcidian helmets for the more versatile hinged cheek pieces. Several district regional workshops produced such helmets by the 5th century B.C.: mainland Greece, the Black Sea Coast, Thrace, Southern Italy and Iberia.