Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0240
North-Western Bronze Short Sword
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 1/8 in. (346 grams, 43.5 cm).
Featuring a prominently curved guard extending out from the ricasso of the blade and partly framing the hilt, thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso.
Provenance
Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Literature
See Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.99-100, for similar.
Footnotes
The hilt of such swords was made separately, and unfortunately is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti.
CONDITIONVETTING:
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.
RELATED LOTS
-
Luristan Bronze Dagger
3rd millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Composed of a leaf-shaped blade, central slightly raised midrib, separately casted hilt with crescentic guard, rivet hole and lozenge-shaped grip. 147 grams, 26.5 cm
Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.
Early bronze daggers from Luristan and Elam had separate casted hilt. Some scholars suggest that arsenic bronze was used in their production, and the handle was separately cast and rivetted to the hilt. Most scholars (Moorey, Mahboubian, Slotta, Vatandust, Khorasani) agree on a 3rd millennium B.C. dating based on the decoration of the hilt. -
Marlik Bronze Short Sword with Crescentic Pommel
14th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
Formed with a slender triangular blade, raised midrib with flat upper face, penannular guard and scooped shoulders, columnar grip with two gusseted hoops, the upper half of the grip is decorated with vertical lines, the lower part with horizontal grooves, crescent pommel; short sword or dagger. 430 grams, 44 cm
Ex Alexander Cotton collection, Hampshire, UK 1980s.
This short sword or dagger belongs to the category of blades with pennanular guard, with hilt and guard cast in one piece with the grip. This solid weapon has separate sets of encircling ribs on the grip. Negahban excavated similar weapons from the Marlik cemeteries, although sometimes the type combines grip and penannular guard with flanged hilts open to accept inlays. -
North-Western Bronze Short Sword
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £585
Featuring a prominently curved guard extending out from the ricasso of the blade and partly framing the hilt, thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso. 346 grams, 43.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The hilt of such swords was made separately, and unfortunately is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti.