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LOT 1403
North-West Persian Bronze Short Sword with Blood Channels
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 3/8 in. (439 grams, 44.2 cm).
Shaped as a two-edged bronze blade, leaf-shape with short rectangular tang with fastening hole, corrugated midrib extending almost to the tip and flared at the shoulder.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
See Christie's, Axel Guttmann collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, Part 1, London, South Kensington, Wednesday 6 November 2002, for similar swords with preserved pommel (lot 24) and without (lot 31).
FootnotesThe metalworking techniques used in making bronze weapons in Luristan were very complex. Surfaces were often finished in repoussé work, and some of the weapons were chased and others engraved. Many of the graves dating from the era of Kassite hegemony contain bronze and iron artefacts, including various type of weapons. These swords with shallow fullers tapering to a sharp tip have been dated by P.R.S. Moorey to the end of the 2nd millennium B.C.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1403
North-West Persian Bronze Short Sword with Blood Channels
Estimate £250 - 350€290 - 410 (for guidance only)$340 - 470 (for guidance only)
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Viking Age Narrow Iron Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With triangular-section long blade extending to a socket with small lateral flanges and rectangular extension to the rear. 229 grams, 12.6 cm
Property of London businessman, from his grandfather's collection after WW2; thence by family descent. From the private collection of John Lawton, Surrey, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a previous catalogue information page. -
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Viking Age Iron Sword with Seven-Lobed Pommel
Circa 11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Couronian sword of Petersen Type K with double-edged tapering blade and tapering fullers; bronze cross-guard extending at each end to serpent- or horse-heads, wheeled ornament to both faces; the lower guard with similar motifs; seven-lobed pommel with annulets and pellets. 1.02 kg, 86.5 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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 no.11925-209658.
Couronian swords of this type, with animal-head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from the 10th to 13th century. Such zoomorphic detailing was a clear influence from Germanic art. Regular geometric ornamentation, derived from Romanesque art, was also widespread, with one of the most common ornaments being a cross-in-circle. -
Large Western Asiatic Bronze Rapier Blade
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Composed of a tanged and barbed blade with raised midrib to both faces. 327 grams, 43.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
In the last ninety years, many such tanged blades have been considered to be coming from centres of production in Amlash and Marlik. Without context accurate dating is impossible, but the shape recalls the rapiers of the Bronze or Early Iron Age.
