An important extra large bronze humped bull sculpture, Amlash circa 1000-800 B.C.

A very attractive bronze bull, standing on it's stout legs and with a oversize hump and pierced through the body. Highly unusual this detailed and in the impressive size!

Size: 84 mm. long and 63 mm. tall.

Condition: Superb for type, with very nice metal and great mottled green patina.

Ex Bavarian private collection, Germany between 1974-2015.

A very large and extrafine bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate cross designs, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

Very impressive round seal with a small solid cross in the center and large cross-arms in the openwork style...

A puzzling piece made in patinated bronze or silver. The alloy is very white, so it could be silver too. Luristan, 1st. millenium BC. The piece is perhaps a horsebit or horse-equipment. It's decorated with two rams heads on each side of a long pole that has two bases.

Size: 12,8 cm. long and 5,5 cm. high. ca. 102 grams

Ex. North German Private Collection from the 1970s-1980s.

Rhyton with a cylindrical shape progressively widening toward its top to give an overall conical aspect. The rython is decorated with two feminine deities figures in relief on both sides, wearing horns and having a posture similar to the one of Osiris statues. The body of the rhyton itself is decorated with superimposed geometric designs in slight relief. The piece is made of bronze, with an encrusted green patina. Mesopotamia, probably Bronze Age, ca. 3000 to 1500 B.C. Height: 11.5 cm...

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...

Interesting and very rare pendant or finial of the Hittite period in Anatolia, c. mid 2nd. millenium BC.

The finial shaped with a bull head on top of another bull.

Size: 6 cm. long and 4,5 cm. tall.

Condition: Fine, earthern green patina, somewhat flaking at the edges, but sound enough.

Ex. Hafnia Coins inventory from c. 1990s.

Rare Seljuk bronze key with an eagle standing on the back of a rooster while pecking at the head of its prey. The rooster has a small crest and protruding eyes.
Birds play an important role in the Seljuk decorative repertoire, and in this case they probably evoke a demonstration of power.
Cast into a two-piece mold and showing a casting seam.
Bronze
Islamic, Seljuq Period, 11th-12th century AD
L. 9.1 cm (3.7 in)
Rare piece. Surface slightly corroded...

This is a very early specimen of a bronze dagger or spear from the ancient middle East. It is solid and stable with only minor losses. It has a plain blade and tang typical of the earliest pieces from the region. It weighs 162 grams and measures roughly 20 cm in length. This is a great piece to start off your collection or to pick up a very early type at a reasonable price.

Interesting and very impressive massive armring, the bronze mixed with some silver to make a whiter alloy, Achaemenid or pre-Achaemenid period, ancient near east, 1st. mill. BC.

Thick and massive bracelet with complicated bimetalic design with twisted copper-wire, and larger twisted rods and ending in stylised animal heads. The bracelet with a lovely warm brown find patina.

Size: 83 mm. wide, weighing 407 grams.

Condition: Choice and intact.

Ex...

This specimen is a large bronze dagger or spear from ancient Lebanon. I do not have a specific cultural attribution for it as of yet but often these types get the blanket classification of Luristan. It may also be Marlik. There are some losses to the blade edges but the rest of the piece appears solid and stable with no signs of repair or restoration. It measures right at 32 cm in length and weighs 213 grams.The blade is over a cm thick near the center and a half cm at the tip.

Ancient Near East, Luristan, ca. 1200 to 800 BC. An elaborate bronze cloak pin, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process with a Zoomorphic beast terminal.

Used to fasten clothes, in this case due to the unusually heavy fabric and decoration, likely leather for presentation use - perhaps for a very thick cape or leather armor.

Size: 11,2 cm.

Condition: Superb! Wonderful dark-green patina.

Ex German Collection from Hessen, aquired before 1970.

A large bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate design with smaller cross in the center, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal stamp seals relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, classified as so-called compartmented seals (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) Reff...

Extremely fine specimen of the earliest metal daggers known, BMAC / Indus, Chalcolithic period, 4th.-3rd. millenium BC.

Large and impressive dagger in hand. Flat, leafshaped blade and very long, straight tang.

Size: 23,7 cm long.

Condition: Extremely fine, choice green patina and great metal. Uncleaned with earthern deposits.

Ex. Danish private Collection, aquired at the Copenhagen antiques market in the 1990s.

A superb bronze battle adze-axe, South Caspian Sea type (Eastern region), early 2nd. millenium BC.

An elaborate type with a very sharp depiction of a Human Eye on each side of the rilled socket. Long slender adze and axe blades with wider edges. Rare and exceptional so nice!

Size: c. 14 cm. long.

Condition: Extremely fine, a gem of an axe with lovely red and green patina.

Ex. Private Collection in Denmark, aquired in the 1990s.

A cast bronze sword from Ancient Near East, Amlash, dating to around 14th-10th cent BC. Tapering double-edged, slightly convex blade with flat mid-rib and short tang with hole for a rivet to fasten handle. Size: c. 51 cm - c. 19,5 inches. Condition: Choice. Slight roughness to the blade, beautiful green bronze patina. . Ex. Private Collection. Comes with our COA and guaranteed authentic.

A large 'Luristani' bronze battle adze, South Caspian Sea type (Eastern region), 2nd. millenium BC.

An elaborate type with a long slender adze blade tappering to a wider bit. Enforced rilled socket with openwork spikes. Terrific lines and symethri and a large size, combined with the fine enamel patina, makes this an exceptional specimen.

Size: c. 16 cm. long and c. 5 cm...

A rare and interesting bronze spear butt for a large lance for hand-to-hand combat, probably Median-Achaemenid, c...

A fine and substantial bronze stamp seal with tall handle and a round base, engraved with an interesting archaic image, Ancient Near East, likely Levantine, c. late 2nd.-1st. millenium BC.

Size: 23 mm. tall and 21-22 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very Fine, olive patina.

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 sp...