Ancient Luristan Bronze Sword Dagger 1150-900 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 have had a bone or wooden insert, but unfortunately, these inserts didn't make it through the three thousand years that have passed.

REFERENCES: This type of dagger is commonly called Luristan since it was discovered in Luristan. However, it is believed to be of Babylonian origin. There are several daggers on display in different museums such as the Musée du Louvre, British Museum, and Teheran Museum, and also in the personal collection of Mrs. Christian Holmes. These daggers have inscriptions on their blades with the names of Babylonian kings from the Fourth Dynasty, such as Nebuchadnezzar I, Marduk-Nadin-Ahhe, and Adad-Apal-Iddina. According to the book "Iran in the Ancient East" by Ernest E. Herzfeld (page 134), these daggers belonged to Babylonian soldiers who held fiefs in Luristan.

Similar daggers are published in the following references:

1) "A Survey of Persian Art: from Prehistoric Times to the Present" by Arthur Upham Pope. Volume VII.

2) "Iran in the Ancient East" by Ernest E. Herzfeld.

3) An identical dagger from the collection of the Deutsches Klingenmuseum in Solingen is published in "Kostbare Blankwaffen aus dem Deutsch. Klingenmuseum Solingen" by Heinz R. Uhlemann on page 15.

4) Bronzes du luristan Publisher: PARIS MUSEES (17 March 2008)

5) "Les Antiquités du Luristan: collection David-Weill" by Pierre Amiet.

5) Christie's catalog "Antiquities" sale on July 6, 2016, lot 32 featured a dagger with the cuneiform inscription "Belonging to Marduk-Nadin-Ahhe, King of Babylon, King of the Universe, King of Sumer and Akkad."

Please note that this document can also be accessed online.

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-iranian...

We will also provide the buyer with photocopies of the pages from the mentioned references together with a certificate of authenticity.

MEASUREMENTS: Overall length: 37.5 cm (14 3/4 inches).

CONDITION: It is in very good condition, with no cracks or repairs; a light patina and earth encrustation cover the surface.

PROVENANCE: From an old Canadian collection of antique arms and armor.