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LOT 1440
Western Asiatic Integral Hilted Bronze Short Sword
LATE 3RD-2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
17 1/8 in. (713 grams, 43.5 cm).
With a broad, lentoid-section flat blade, rounded tip, sloping sides, well marked shoulders with wide but short tang.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Cf. Inassa, M., 'Daggers in ancient Mesopotamia' in Journal of Archaeological Research and Studies, vol.2, March 2018, pp.1-27, fig.1, p.26.
FootnotesThe sword finds similarity with the one from the Royal Cemetery of Ur. This is the most primitive form of dagger, consisting of a simple, pointed blade having slightly convex outline shoulders sloping to a short tang which has no rivets, and was probably hafted to wood with bitumen.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 1440
Western Asiatic Integral Hilted Bronze Short Sword
Estimate £250 - 350€290 - 410 (for guidance only)$340 - 470 (for guidance only)
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Byzantine 'Greek Fire' Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Piriform in profile with domed neck, impressed roundels to the foot. 755 grams, 15.5 cm
From a specialist collection of militaria, London, UK, collected 1990s onwards. 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. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Spearhead
2nd millennium B.C.Estimate: £100 - 140 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £50
With foliate blade, rhomboidal in section, raised mid-rib, medium length stem widening at its base and forming a small stop, rectangular-section tang with bent terminal. 595 grams, 41.5 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
The specimen belongs to the category of tripartite spears with long pointed biconvex blade and single bevelled tang. They seem to be a Mesopotamian and Susian (Elamite) variant, and this type also includes decorated blades, like the spear from Tello with the inscription 'King of Kish'. Various specimens have been found in the layers of Tepe Hissar III site. -
Post Medieval Iron Prick Spur
20th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £39
With rectangular finials, D-section frame and conical prick. 67 grams, 15.5 cm
From a private Barnsley, UK, family collection.
