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LOT 1540
Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Collection
2ND-1ST MILLENNIUM B.C.
2 1/4 - 6 1/8 in. (384 grams total, 5.8-15.7 cm).
Comprising tanged arrowheads, four with large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, sharp central groove, one triangular type with barbed shoulders and flat socket, one with barbed shoulders and cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft; four with squared shoulders and rectangular stem with handle for the shaft, one with trilobate blade, two with barbed shoulder and flat tang, one with short pyramidal head and cylindrical stem, and another with short tang and long blade with raised midrib. [15]
ProvenanceEx London, UK, collection, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. Mahboubian, H., Art of the Ancient Iran, London, 1997, no.390, for some similar arrowheads; Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, figures 463, 467, 469-471, for some of these types.
FootnotesThese arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory types A, B, C and D according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. 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. Most of them were cast in moulds.
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AUCTIONS:
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Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Collection
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Mainly barbed and tanged types of slender profile. 287 grams total, 6.2-17.7 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. -
Luristan Bronze Macehead Collection
Circa 900-800 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,300
With long septagonal and octagonal shank, rounded knobs around the swollen head, flanked by horizontal bands. 876 grams total, 15.5-17.3 cm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London, UK. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Ovoid in profile with a rounded base and a gently ribbed body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 774 grams, 14.6 cm
From a specialist collection, London, UK, 1990-2000s. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.
Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια, where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
