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LOT 0293
Pre-Achaemenid Bronze Short Sword with Bifurcated Pommel
CIRCA 8TH CENTURY B.C.
19 5/8 in. (665 grams, 50 cm).
The blade with mid-rib divided in five vertical lines, emerging from the mouth of two stylised lion-heads, the eyes recessed to accept red inlay; the grip and upper part of the blade with incised spiral decoration; the ribbed pommel with twin roundels, each decorated with a recessed six-petalled rosette, traces of red pigment still visible.
ProvenanceEx old English collection.
London art market, pre 2000.
Property of a London, UK, gentleman.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11974-210547.
Cf. Muscarella, O. W., Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artefacts in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.285-286, no.390, fig.282; Christie's, Axel Guttmann collection of Ancient Arms and Armour, Part 2, London, South Kensington, 28th April 2004, lot 32.
FootnotesExamples of swords and daggers with the guard in the form of addorsed animal heads with the blade projecting from the mouths are known from Assyrian reliefs (for example on the orthostats from Tell al Rimah).
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0293
Pre-Achaemenid Bronze Short Sword with Bifurcated Pommel
Estimate £3,000 - 4,000€3,480 - 4,640 (for guidance only)$4,050 - 5,400 (for guidance only)
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Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger Blade
Early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With a narrow tapering blade, slightly enlarged in the guard area and narrowing again towards the 'ear' pommel. 61 grams, 33 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The techniques used by Luristan craftsmen to create bronze weapons were highly sophisticated. They used a wide variety of surface finishes: repoussé work, chasing and engraving. The fact that the mountains of Luristan were particularly rich in copper and tin, both required for making bronze, was a significant advantage to the metalworking industry. The weapons produced developed into a plethora of different forms in the 2nd millennium B.C. to at least 800 B.C. These objects include axes and adzes, pick axes, daggers and dirks, spears, swords, helmets and shields. Weapons were usually cast, but armour parts were also made by the hammering process. -
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Mexican Iron and Brass Rowel Spur
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
With pierced crescent motifs to the shank, free-running star-shaped rowel and geometric engraving to heelband with lozengiform terminals. 349 grams, 22 cm
Acquired from Czerny's Auctions, Italy, 2016, lot 390. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copy of Czerny's invoice and lot details. -
Large Luristan Arrowhead with Stand
14th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
With triangular blade, having a barbed deltoid shape and a rounded projecting midrib tapering towards the sharp point, cylindrical stem and rectangular sectioned tang: accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 36 grams, 21.5 cm (140 grams total, 22.5 cm high including stand)
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
According to Khorasani, this type of arrowhead belongs to a subcategory of the category of type V of Luristan arrow points. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders.
