Western Asiatic Bronze Arrowhead Group

Of type II with crescentic pommel, the grip with V-shaped collar and penannular guard, blade with a broad, raised midrib. 684 grams, 56 cm



Ex Abelita family collection, 1988.

The crescentic pommel and the penannular guard were probably cast in a one piece-mould. These kinds of pommels are typical of the iron swords of type 2 from Luristan. A certain number of Luristan daggers and swords have bronze or iron blades with cast-on bronze hilts. The typology of winged pommel bronze grip is visible on examples in the British Museum and the National Museum of Iran.

Couronian sword of Petersen Type K with double-edged tapering blade and tapering fullers; bronze cross-guard extending at each end to serpent- or horse-heads, wheeled ornament to both faces; the lower guard with similar motifs; seven-lobed pommel with annulets and pellets. 1.02 kg, 86.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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 no.11925-209658.

Couronian swords of this type, with animal-head decoration on the lower guard, were widespread and used in the Eastern Baltic lands from the 10th to 13th century. Such zoomorphic detailing was a clear influence from Germanic art. Regular geometric ornamentation, derived from Romanesque art, was also widespread, with one of the most common ornaments being a cross-in-circle.

With short tang for an organic hilt, the blade showing multiple grooves forming a pronounced mid-rib spanning roughly more than three-quarters of the blade; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.18 kg total, 45.5 cm (49 cm including stand)



Ex P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s.

Luristan was hardly an ethnic or political entity, but the people of Luri had relations through warfare and traded with Sumerians, Lullubi, Assyrians, Babylonians and Elamites over a long period of time, spanning from the 3rd to the 2nd millennium B.C. The ruling elites of warrior horsemen were buried with their weapons and horses.