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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.
ProvenanceAcquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.
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.
FootnotesIn 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.
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With a short blade flaring towards the cutting edge, rounded projection to the butt, rolled ridge around the shaft hole. 192 grams, 75 mm
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