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_900x900.jpg "Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger with Stone Pommel")
_200x200.jpg "Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger with Stone Pommel")
.jpg "Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger with Stone Pommel")
LOT 0245
Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger with Stone Pommel
3RD MILLENIUM B.C.
16 1/2 in. (693 grams, 42 cm).
Comprising a leaf-shaped blade with broad midrib to both faces, square-section tang and pommel with discoid bronze top displaying a stylised floral or geometric motif with parallel pairs of lines radiating from the centre and a pellet in each segment.
ProvenanceEx old English collection.
Acquired from Timeline Originals, UK, 2015.
The Kusmirek Collection, UK.
See Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.IV, no.16, for similar.
FootnotesThis type of daggers include lanceolate blades with a pronounced piercing and cutting function, often reinforced with a convex stiffening rib or fullers that follow the contour of the blade (Gorelik, 2003, pls. IV, 15-21, 23-25). It is commonly believed that the fullers were designed to drain blood, but this is a misconception; their purpose is to increase the strength of the blade and reduce its weight.
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Massive Viking Age Finno-Ugrian Spearhead
Circa 12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Comprising a leaf-shaped blade and long tubular socket. 388 grams, 42.2 cm
UK collection since the 1990s. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
The more common weapons of Finno-Ugrian people were axes commonly found from all Finnic areas, as well as spears. Among Baltic-Finnic people, especially in Finland and Karelia, knives called 'puukko' were common, as well as axes, spears, flat bows and long bows, while swords were usually imported from Germanic areas, Sweden or from elsewhere Scandinavia, some having often typically Scandinavian animal ornaments, although there are some Finnish made finds too. -
Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Egg-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, impressed rings and raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 565 gram, 13 cm
Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s. 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. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form. -
Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Group
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £150 - 200 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £80
Mainly composed of tanged examples of barbed and leaf-shaped types. 220 grams total, 7.5-12.5 cm
Acquired 1990s. From the collection of a late Japanese weaponry collector.
