Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0303

Western Asiatic South Caspian Bronze Sword

9TH-8TH CENTURY B.C.

28 in. (1.06 kg, 71 cm).

With penannular guard and a multi-fullered double edged blade tapering to a sharp point, solid cast hilt made of a round handle with two decorative discs under the stone mushroom pommel.

Provenance

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Literature

See a similar sword in Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp.167-168, no.166.

Footnotes

In this sword it is possible that hilt and blade were not cast as one unit, but rather that the hilt was cast onto the blade. The thick guard is related to the crescent type, but here is almost rectangular, albeit with rounded shoulders, like in the blade of Metropolitan published by Muscarella.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0303

Western Asiatic South Caspian Bronze Sword

Sold for (Inc. bp): £878

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Point Group
    Luristan Bronze Arrowhead Point Group
    Circa 12th-10th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £143

    Each with a sturdy square-section tang, broad barbed head with midrib. 92 grams total, 15 cm each



    Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

    Two of these arrowheads seem to belong to the type V, subcategory type C, 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.

    Lot Details

  • Western Asiatic Medical Instrument
    Western Asiatic Medical Instrument
    Circa 13th-7th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £124

    Comprising an H-section tang with lateral wings, slender leaf-shaped head with spiked point. 28.37 grams, 18.5 cm



    Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

    Some texts related to ancient Mesopotamian wound dressing give detailed instructions for surgery with a scalpel, including post-operative care such as the dressing of operations sites with oilsoaked linen bandages. One scantily described operation is the cutting between the third and fourth ribs, counting from inferior to superior, to relieve pus collection in the pleura or liver.

    Lot Details

  • Turco-Mongol Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    Turco-Mongol Ceramic Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade
    13th-15th century A.D.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £124

    A hollow vessel with cylindrical body, carinated shoulder, short neck and domed mouth, bands of impressed herringbone patterns to the shoulder and waist, piriform lower body; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and a wick, and used as a hand grenade. 463 grams, 17 cm



    From a military inspired collection formed from the 1990s.

    This piece was a type of ceramic fire grenade, similar to the ones used by the Eastern Romans but of Turco-Mongol type. Apart from the use of manual flame-throwers, special corps of soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list