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...

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 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 an ancient bronze short sword from Northwestern Iran. It has a choice, predominantly blue patina mottled with green and red. The lower half of the hilt is basically ovoid in hape with a lappet-flanged area on both broad surfaces. Flanged areas often held inlays of wood or bone but a lappet flange of this type was probably a decoration in and of itself. The upper half of the hilt is also ovoid but with the broad surfaces oriented perpendicular to the lower half...

This fantastic ancient weapon is a bronze dagger or spear from Luristan - ancient Northern Iran circa 1200 BC. This piece is heavy and stable. It has a leaf shaped blade with a strong midrib. The tang tapers to a small 90 degree bend.It has a wonderful patina including malachite and azurite encrustations. This would be a marvelous addition to any collection.It measures just over 26 cm in length and weighs208 grams.

This is a bronze dagger from the Bactrian culture dating to roughly 2000-2500 BC. It is a fine, intact example of ancient bronze weaponry. It measures 173 mm in length and weighs 57 grams. The metal is solid and stable with an "as found" patina. This is a quality weapon at a reasonable price.

Interesting Cuneiform tablet, slightly rectangular and inscribed on all sides with Cunei text, Mesopotamian, probably Arkadian Cunei, late 3rd. millenium BC.

Untranslated by us.

Size: 33 x 31 mm.

Condition: Good Very fine or better, finely baked clay with almost glossy surfaces, no losses.

Ex. Old Private Collection

An attractive hard burnt terracotta plaque of female deity, probably Ishtar, with tall headdress and fine gown, babylonian, 2nd. mill. BC.

The godess is decorated with wedge-like decoration on her breasts and lower part of gown. On the back inscribed with 4 columns of Cuneiform, untranslated by us.

Size: c. 13 cm.

Condition: Very fine, intact with repaired hairline cracks runing though the middle and at the feets...

Reddish limestone. Animal battle scene with crossing bulls and crescent moon standard, worshippers in between. A larger seal in an attractive red-orange stone. Isin-Larsa period, Old Babylonian, ca. 2002-1594 BC.

Height 26 mm and diameter is 13 cm., so fairly thick.

Condition: Very fine, smooth wear but intact with a nice patina.

Provenance: The Karl Müller collection, Germany 1950-1977. Comes with COA and his imprint.

An interesting and rare motif of a coiled on a Ubaid period stamp seal of the round gable type, Mesopotamia c. 5th.-4th. millenium BC.

Size: c. 20 mm...

An interesting and scarce stamp seal, carved and finely polished in white stone, perhaps marple, and engraved in the base with globules, Uruk period, 4th.-3rd. millenium BC.

Size: c. 16 mm...

Interesting seal or gaming token perhaps with an elaborate carving of a Sun symbol, probably 1st. millenium BC.

Rare piece carved in either a very durable bone or steatite (?), beautiful patina.

Size: 18 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections...

Interesting early scaraboid stamp seal, shaped as a stylized Egyptian Scarab, North-Eastern Anatolia / Western Mesopotamia, c. 3rd...

A rare type dated in newer research to the Neolithic period of Eastern Anatolia / Northern Mesopotamia, 7th.-6th. mill. BC.

Drop or leaf shaped amuletic seal with tiny gritt patterns and loop at the top.

Size: 24 mm. long and 11 mm. wide.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from ...

Interesting cylinder seal, probably in faience, engraved with symethric patterns, Mesopotamia, Jemdet Nasr, 3300-2900 BC.

Size: 30 mm. tall and 10 mm. wide.

Condition: Very fine.

Comes with the original collection Id-card and imprint.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1985 - 2000s, bought at reputable dealers and from old collections. Gustav Oberländer specialized in early stam...

A finely preserved small inscribed foundation cylinder, Neo-Babylonian Empire, c. 8th-6th. century BC.

The barrel shaped piece fully inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform. Untranslated but such cylinders usually has been attributed to Nebucadnezzar II, 604-562 B.C. They were stuck into buidings walls and is often long texts with praises to the builder and the gods, usually a king, just like foundation bricks.

Size: 60 mm. long and c. 25-26 mm. thick.

Condition: Good ...

Darkage-Viking silver pendant in a Lunar or crecent shape with a loop, c. 600-900 AD.

Attractive and wearable today with decorations on the surface.

Size: 26 mm. tall.

Condition: Intact.

Ex. German Private Collection.

Interesting pottery jar with handle and fine decoration in red on beige ground, Ancient Near East c. 2nd. millenium BC.

Size: 15,8 cm. wide and 11,3 cm. tall.

Condition: Very fine, with short crack and small chip nicely restored and not visible.

Ex. Old Danish Collection.