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LOT 1526
Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger
1800-1600 B.C.
11 1/2 in. (174 grams, 29.2 cm).
The blade expanding towards the shoulders, a pierced rectangular-section tang.
ProvenanceEx Abelita family collection, 1990s.
LiteratureCf. for the type Gorelik, M., Weapons of Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg, 2003, in Russian, see pl.IV, no.40, from Western Iran.
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LOT 1526
Western Asiatic Bronze Dagger
Estimate £200 - 300€230 - 350 (for guidance only)$270 - 410 (for guidance only)
Opening Bid
£100 (EUR 116; USD 135) +BP*
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Luristan Socketted Bronze Axe Head Sar-e Tabar
Circa 2200-1600 B.C.Estimate: £500 - 700 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £250
Comprising a wide curving blade and long neck with a band of herringbone decoration at the base, tubular neck with claw-like extension to the rear and a decorative diagonal band to both sides. 308 grams, 10.6 cm
Acquired on the Swiss art market, 1997. Private collection, Europe.
Similar examples of axeheads were produced in Luristan, and early parallels date back to 2200 B.C. They have moulding bands at the base, and the shaft is often crosshatched, showing different lozenge-shaped figures. -
Luristan Bronze Dagger
13th century B.C.Estimate: £1,000 - 1,400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £500
With a lentoid-section blade, tongue-shaped in plan, with an integral tapering hilt with flared finial, lateral flanges to accept the remains of a panel of cream-coloured stone to each face which would have formed the grip. 255 grams, 32.7 cm
Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA.
The art of Luristan can be described as the art of nomadic herdsmen and horsemen with an emphasis on the crafting of small, easily portable objects, among these a great number of bronze weapons. The rich and noble aristocrats of Luristan, Elamites, Hurrians, Lullubians, Kutians, and Kassites went to battle splendidly equipped and wore magnificent bronze armour, using maces, spears and daggers as offensive weapons, alongside spears, bows and arrows. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Axehead
Late 3rd-early 2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £180 - 240 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £100
With a short socketted shaft, the plain rectangular blade broadening towards the cutting edge; side holes on the shaft. 446 grams, 11.4 cm
Ex Abelita family collection, 1980s-2000s.
Unadorned weapons, especially axes, adzes, and picks, were made by Luristan craftsmen using simple clay or stone bivalve moulds, into which a core was inserted to form the socket for the shaft. Typically, the metallic composition consisted of a combination of arsenical bronze and copper, together with a small percentage of lead.
