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Important ancient Luristan Bronze & Iron Mace 1000 B.C. browse these categories for related items... Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Near Eastern: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1065960
ArtAncient Ltd. Antiquities for Sale West Hampstead London, United Kingdom +44 (0)1223 655 498 Guest Book 7950.00 |
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| A rare and important ancient Luristan bronze mace-head with Iron shaft, dating to the Near Eastern Iron age I period (1200-1000 B.C.). The only such example we have ever seen on the market. The bronze mace head is of typical Luristan form, with short cylindrical ridged socket, bulbous body and blunt projections. The Iron shaft, completely preserved along its length, inserts into the hollow socket of the macehead and runs flush at the top. A loop at the bottom of the shaft would likely have suspended the weapon, possibly from a belt. The function of this extremely rare weapon is mysterious. It dates to the Early Near Eastern Iron age, where iron blades began to replace bronze weapons, at least functionally in battle. Although many contemporary and earlier maces would have had wooden shafts, the maker of this piece chose to construct it from iron, a very expensive alternative. The likely reason for this was to give the weapon more tensile strength, reducing the risk that the handle would fracture after a heavy blow. Iron was not as necessary for the mace-head itself, where even the more malleable bronze would have been well able to inflict severe damage. Possibly a weapon intended to be worn from the belt or from the side of the horse, or possibly a ceremonial piece, for carrying out sacrifice. Length: 21 1/4 inches. Condition: Exceptional condition, unrestored. Provenance: Ex. Axel Guttmann Collection. Guttmann was without doubt the most famous collector of ancient militaria in the modern era, many of his pieces being published in several volumes by authors Hermann Born & Ursula Seidl. His collection was so rich that a Museum was created in Berlin to house his many objects. This piece is one of the rarest from the entire collection, and was exhibited in the Guttmann museum in the 1990's. | ||
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