This type of bronze weapon is generally designated as a short sword. It has a substantial midrib with tapering edges. The edges are concave in the upper part and gracefully draw into spikes or wings that extend around either side of the tang. Weapons of this type are found in Northwestern Iran and most likely date to around the 9th century BC. “Weapons of this type [are] widely represented in the Ghaletenti I cemetery in Dailiman.” (“Arms and Armor from Iran” by Manouchehr M...

This is a beautiful bronze sword from ancient Persia (circa 1300 BC). It has a somewhat unique design in the form of a "tiered" blade. There are three separate tiers on the blade. One is an oval shape near the tang, one area is between the oval area and the tip and the third tier is the tip itself. It is a curious design we have not seen previously and would look great in your collection...

CLAY FIGURE OF A WORSHIPPER
Mesopotamia; Babylonian, Circa, 1800 B.C.

Clay figure of a standing worshipper wearing a crown-like and a tunic

Measurements:
Height: 12 cm
Width: 3.5 cm
Height on stand: 15 cm

The figure if nicely mounted on a plexi-glass display stand of high quality

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#727008

An Anatolian Marble stone Idol of a lovely 'female' form, Kusura-Beycesultan Type, Early Bronze Age II, Circa 2700-2300 B.C.

The particular shape of this fertility idol is also called a 'Violin-shape', carved as it is in a nice white marble.

Size: c. 5 cm. tall.

Condition: Near Extremely fine and perfect, with much adhired sandy pockets, that can be cleaned if so desired.

Old german collection of R. K., Nordrhein-Westfalen, before 1980.

CLAY FIGURE OF A STANDING ASTARTE “FERTILITY GODDESS”
Mesopotamia, Old Babylonian; 1800 BC

Dimensions:
Height: 12.5 cm
Width: 3.5 cm
Height on stand: 14.5 cm

Ishtar (Akkadian), Astarte (Phoenician), or Inanna (Sumerian) was the most important female deity in Mesopotamia through the second millennium BC. She was identified with the planet Venus, and the sunrise. She was the goddess of both sexual love and warfare...

Head of the Buddha shown with solemn expression. The refined facial features with arched eyebrows over heavy lidded eyes and a sensitively modeled mouth with purse lips. The half open eyes with their barely indicated irises confer the head a meditative gaze. The hair is delicately textured with a central bun (usnisha) on top. The idealized style is reminiscent of Greek Hellenistic sculpture which lived on among Gandharan artists. Stucco. Gandhara, 3rd/4th century AD. H. 7.7 cm (3 in), H...

This type of bronze weapon is generally designated as a short sword. It has a substantial midrib with tapering edges. The edges are concave in the upper part and gracefully draw into spikes or wings that extend around either side of the tang. Weapons of this type are found in Northwestern Iran and most likely date to around the 9th century BC. “Weapons of this type [are] widely represented in the Ghaletenti I cemetery in Dailiman.” (“Arms and Armor from Iran” by Manouchehr M...

This week I am posting several Bronze Age weapons from the Middle East including a set of 5, very unique, crescent-hilt daggers from the Marlik culture (circa 1000 BC). These all came from the same private collection. For a nearly identical example see "Arms and Armor from Iran" by Manoucher Khorasani p 50 figure 1 and page 53. This specimen appears to have been cleaned partially so I have included a 35X micrograph of an area of the surface showing crystallization common on ancient bronze...

A massive ceramic dish with caligraphy very rare for this exceptional size, Samenid Dynasty, 9th.-10th. century AD.

Nice quality for the type with fine black cufic caligraphy on a cream-white ground.

Size: 34 cm. in diameter! Among the largest dishes we've handled.

Condition: Good very fine, very intact for the large size! Intact but for a restored break at the side. Very large part of the original crackled glaze preserved. Some antique wear to glaze...

A lovely Epigraphic pottery bowl with fine style Cufic caligraphy, Islamic Samenid Dynasty, ca. 9th.-10th. century.

A massive conical bowl both wide and tall and decorated with wonderful caligraphy in black on white glaze.

Size: Near 32 cm. wide and 12 cm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine for this rare type and large size. Restored from few larger fragments, some repainted in the joint-areas, perhaps some strengthening, but very good original crackled glaze...

A beautiful ceramic dish with caligraphy, Nishapur or Samarkand, Samenid Dynasty, Western Asia 9th.-10th. century AD.

Lovely quality for the type with artful black and red caligraphy on a cream-white ground.

Size: 29 cm...

ANCIENT CLAY PLAQUE
MESOPOTAMIA, OLD BABYLONIAN PERIOD, 2040 - 1750 BC

This baked clay plaque with relief decoration representing a seated ruler on his throne infront of a large palm branch

Baked clay plaques were mass-produced in southern Mesopotamia from the second millennium BC. They show informal scenes and reflect the private face of life. Though their exact purpose is not clear, they may have had magical or religious significance

Measurements:
Heigh: 10.5 c...

POTTERY FIGURE OF ASTARTE "FERTILITY GODDESS"
ANCIENT PERSIA, LURESTAN REGION, C. 1200 – 700 BC

Measurements:
Height: 16 cm
Width: 9 cm
Height on stand: 18.5 cm
Nicely mounted on a plexi-glass custom made display stand

Condition: Good condition as shown

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A superb and exceptionally large pottery bowl with torquoise glaze, black markings and a finely decorated pattern on the interior. Seljug period, 11th.-12th. centuries, Near East.

The finest bowl we've seen of the type. With silvery iridescence on the surface of both the interior and the exterior. Very beautiful colours. The patina and fine glass like gloss is difficult to grasp in our pictures but is very visible in hand.

Size: 23,7 cm. in diameter and 11 cm. tall.

Early Bronze Age jug of piriform body, narrow neck and beaked spout. The handle is parted at the join to the belly and decorated with diagonal fluting – to render a twisted feature.
With a Thermoluminescent Report from Oxford University dated December 1976.
Ceramic
Anatolian, Yortan Culture, 2700-2500 BC
H. 16 cm (6.3 in)
Small section of the spout’s upper edge restored. Otherwise intact and of choice condition. Root marks and soil deposits.
Ex Swiss...

Authentic ancient Luristan ancient Luristan Babylonian-type bronze sword made between 1200-1000 BC. It has a flanged hilt, and the blade is finely cast in one piece. This is an excellent example of an authentic ancient Luristan bronze dagger with an elegant form from the Bronze Age, dating back to 1200-1000 BC.

A tapering double-edged blade, a shaped hilt with an elliptical pommel, hollowed on each face for a pair of grip scales. Back in the day when this sword was in use, the handle would ...

Authentic ancient Luristan Babylonian Type bronze Sword circa 1200 -1000 BC. A flanged hilt and blade finely cast in one piece. A very fine example of an authentic Ancient Luristan bronze dagger, of elegant form, from the Bronze Age circa 1200 -1000 BC. A tapering double-edged blade, a shaped hilt with an elliptical pommel, hollowed on each face for a pair of grip-scales. In the period when the sword was used, the handle would have had a bone or wooden insert, but these never survive three thous...

Here we have an incredible example of an ancient iron sword from Northern Iran, possibly Amlash, circa 900 BCE. It has a saddle-shaped pommel with extensive geometric decor on the hilt. The iron blade, though deteriorated, is still intact. The slender and elegant weapon has survived millennia just to be in your collection. There is a crack near the guard area visible in the photos. This fragile and beautiful piece measures 60.5 cm in length in its current condition. There are no visible repairs ...