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LOT 0296
Wavy Blood Channelled Bronze Short-Sword
LATE 2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
13 3/8 in. (258 grams, 34 cm).
A North-Western Persian dagger or short-sword blade with rounded shoulders and thick mid-rib with undulated blood-channels running to the blade tip; short tang with fastening hole.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Thrane, H., ‘Tepe Guran and the Luristan Bronzes’ in Archaeology, Vol. 23, No.1, January, 1970, pp. 26-35, fig.p.30, for a similar dagger with a simpler mid-rib.
FootnotesThe Luri people produced a quantity of fine metalwork, which according to Dr Khorasani, could be due to a settled period which arose as a result of the defeat of the Elamites by the Babylonians, leaving the Luristani people in relative peace for a period of time after 1200 BC. According to Khorasani 'A culture of innovation and experimentation flourished, and the repertoire of the Luristan smiths expanded in the period between 1150-1050 BC.'.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0296
Wavy Blood Channelled Bronze Short-Sword
Estimate £600 - 800€700 - 930 (for guidance only)$810 - 1,080 (for guidance only)
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Marlik Type Bronze Tanged Spearhead
12th-11th century B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With heavily ridged and tapering blade, short collared shaft and a square-section tapering tang bent at the tip. 159 grams, 31.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The weapon belongs to type I of the Khorasani classification. Similar weapons have been excavated in Marlilk by Professor Negahban and dated by Stutzinger to the late 13th-early 12th century B.C. -
Viking Iron Bearded Axehead
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
With curved edge to the blade, square chin and scooped underside, rounded socket. 390 grams, 15 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Roman 'Pompey the Great' Lead Slingshot
1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £663
Biconical lead slingshot (glans) with inscription in Latin letters 'CN' (Cneius) 'MAG' (Magnus) on one side, and 'IMP' for 'IMPERATOR' (victorious general) to the other side, i.e Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Imperator (Pompey the Great the victorious general). 67.5 grams, 42 mm
From a Spanish collection. From the collection of an London antiquarian. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 4th May 2022 and titled 'Roman Res Publica - Lead Slingshots (glandes) of Caesarian Age - 45 B.C circa'. Accompanied by a printed copy of the Spanish cultural export licence 2022/07273.
The shot (Völling type 1C) is marked with the abbreviated name of Gnaeus Pompey; it was used in quantity at the Battle of Monda (or Munda) against Julius Caesar, 17th March 45 BC. The projectiles were made of different materials: lead (glandes) or in pottery or stone (lapides missiles). Sometimes they were signed with the name of the general, like our specimen.
