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LOT 1582
North-Western Persian Bronze Sword Blade
11H-7TH CENTURY B.C.
14 in. (286 grams, 35.5 cm).
With a prominently curved guard extending out from the ricasso, partly framing the hilt, thick midrib extending slightly above the ricasso.
ProvenanceEx Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
LiteratureSee Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.99-100, for a similar blade.
FootnotesThe hilt of such swords was made separately and, unfortunately, is nearly always missing from the archaeological records. Similar daggers had a northern Iranian background, and excavated examples have been recorded from the South Caspian area from Tomadjan and Ghalekuti. Their chronology ranges from the late 2nd millennium B.C. to the 7th century B.C.
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Greek Iron Lancehead
Magna Graecia, 6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Blade widened at the base, ribbed, conical socket with wooden remains. 277 grams total, 43 cm including stand (lance 25.8 cm)
From the famous arms and armour collection of Axel Guttmann (1944-2001), Berlin, Germany. Ex Hermann Historica, Munich, Germany, 4 May 2011, no.1783 (lot). From a private specialist collection, London, UK. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Hermann Historica catalogue pages.
The spear finds an almost identical parallel in two spearheads from Lavello, found associated with a Corinthian helmet and a sword, as part of Burial objects, dating back to around the middle of the 6th century BC. This type of hoplite weaponry was used by individual warriors, who, in Daunia (South Italic Apulia), while adopting Greek models, fought on horseback, according to a fighting style centred on the heroic duel between leaders. -
Medieval Knight's Iron Hand-and-a-Half Sword with Inscribed Bronze Pommel
Germany, 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £14,300
Longsword of Oakeshott's Type XVa, cross style 8, bronze pommel style J (recessed); strongly tapering, pointed blade of ‘flattened diamond’ section, cross style tapering gradually outward to sharply downturned tips; long grip with slight taper, disc pommel with chamfered edges and a potent cross in the centre surrounded by an inscription (on both sides) '+ IH SU + AAWM'. 1.25 kg, 113 cm
From the private family collection of a lady, UK; acquired in Germany mid 20th century. 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 number no.13034-24799.
Some wheel pommels of this date have engraved, or inset roundels with armorial or devotional emblems, and a number of sword blades of this date bear religious inscriptions in the form of a prayer. The inscription on the pommel between the two potent crosses is intriguing. The letters 'IH SU' are a clear reference to the name of the Saviour, and can be translated as Ihesu-Jesus, or also Ihesu Merci (Jesus have mercy), a simple prayer for the person carrying the sword. The letters 'A.A. W.M.' could refer to the name of the owner of the sword (WM = Wilhelm) or the maker of the weapon. It is difficult to consider the letters as an abbreviation of the prayer ‘Ave Maria’, usually shortened in the German medieval inscriptions as A.M. -
Luristan Bronze Socketted Spearhead
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Comprising a lentoid-section, leaf-shaped blade with tapering socket. 285 grams, 38 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1990s.
