This is a very interesting bronze, socketed spear from ancient Greece or Persia. It has a slightly swollen midrib accented with incised lines. The socket is split at the original seam and there are some losses. The blade has what appears to be ancient battle damage, making this quite a unique piece for any collection. The overall length is roughly 18 cm and the weight is 130 grams.

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.

Large skyphos with tapered body, rounded shoulder and straight lip. Oblique handles on the shoulder, standing on a ring base. Hard-fired ceramic decorated with horizontal bands of reddish glaze. Groups of wavy lines on the reserved handle zone.
Orientates on cups of the Thapsos Class and derived types.
For a related example, cf. Beazley Archive vase 9008878.
Etruscan, Italo-Geometric, 700-650 BC
Ceramic
H. 11 cm (4.3 in), D. rim 13 cm (5.1 in)
W...

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...

A rare and interesting bronze spear butt for a large lance for hand-to-hand combat, probably Median-Achaemenid, c. 7th.-5th. cent. BC.

The use of this fine spearbutt was known all over the Greco-Persian world in the mid 1st. millenium BC. A spear-butt covers the end of a spear that touches the ground and it would have been used as a weapon also in close combat.

Reff. see a very similar but inscribed Greek spearbutt on view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 155 and dated t...

This is an incredible, extremely rare weapon from the Chu Culture and dates to the Warring States period (circa 400 BC). It is called a Pi and was used as both a spear and a sword (or dagger). This is one of the rarest weapon types from ancient China and you will not likely see another one like it anywhere at any price. Ancient Asian bronze is becoming rarer by the day. This piece is a guaranteed investment. It measures roughly 46 cm in length and weighs 425 grams. There is some minor damage to ...

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...

A pair of silver bowls with great potential for repairing, Sasanian, c. 3td.-6th. century AD.

Lot includes a hammered bowl with fine decoration in repousé and a larger crack and loss, plus another hammered bowl without decor with a small crack and loss. Both bowls are hammered in rather thin silver and uncleaned with some green encrustation.

A nice lot that can be much more valuable when finely restored!

Size: 14,7 and 15,3 cm. in diameter and rather deep.

A wonderful lot of three very nice bronze antiquities!

Lot includes a lovely finial of a bronze rooster with a scorpios tail (!), quite unusual and beautifully sculptured for the medium, redish patina and 8,3 cm. tall. Another stylized rooster finial in bronze 5,5 cm., both Islamic Khorassan style, ca. 10th.-12th. century AD and a very interesting intact clasp in bronze with a finely modelled Lions mask on the front, still wearable today, 5,5 cm.

Ex. German Collection since...

A very beautiful and rare bronze mace head, Western Asian, dating to the 2nd. millenium BC

A rare Luristan bronze mace head. The upper body with a segmented swelling, bordered by bands, interesting large discus at each end, makes it a very rare type.

Size: ca. 129 mm. high and massive.

Condition: Superb, with excellent brown and green patina - a gem!

Provenance: Old Danish private Collection (Hans Henningsen), bought in the 1980s in London.

A fine bronze seal with a loop on the back and a star-shaped design, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal belongs to one of the varied mostly circular metal “stamp seals” relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, but more rarely in silver or gold, which is classified as so-called “compartmented seal” (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943. P. 179–180, fig. 4) fabricated in openwork and with closely related champlevé whereby the design wa...

Important silver alloy plate, with an embossed décoration representing two women facing each other. Bactria, Ca. 500 BC. Diameter: 20.2 cm. Very good condition.

A very interesting and uncleaned metal seal in bronze or a silver alloy, Mesopotamia, Uruk-Jemdet Nasr period, 4th.-3rd. mill. BC.

Finely engraved with dots in a symethric pattern.

Size: 19-20 mm. tall and 9 mm. wide.

Condition: Good Very fine or better. Uncleaned with lots of dirt in the devices, so this will improve a whole lot when cleaned.

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired his massive and important collection between 1...

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...

A massive, solid cast silver bracelet of the finest workmanship of the Achaimenid period, 5th-4th century BC.

The bracelet or armring would have been made for a very highranking / rich costumer in antiquity, since these are usually hollowcast, when this thickness and size. The silver bracelet with faux-twist and twisted wire details to the body, finials with serpent- or Lion head detailing.

Weight: ca. 410 grams.

Condition: Superb uncleaned condition, retain...

Interesting bronze seal of bell shape with loop, Late Hittite Kingdoms or Urartu, 1st. millenium BC.

A lovely seal octagonal and with a fine and interesting engraving in the base.

Size: 22 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine for type, lovely dark green and red 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 Ob...

A fine lot of two later bronze age military weapons, Ancinet Near East 2nd.-1st. millenium BC.

Lance of a type used by the armies of the great Empires in the Ancient Near East of the 1st. mill. BC., fine glossy patina, tiny piece of the tip lost, 28 cm. and 2) a sturdy attractive bronze dagger with central midrip and very broad triangular blade. Excellent metal and intact. 25 cm.

Ex. Danish Private collection.

A very interesting and wonderful bust of a male god in silver, Ancient Near East, ca. 1st. millenium BC.

A pre-roman figure from the Ancient Near or middle East, unresearched for culture.

The finial depicts a divine figure likely a god, bald-headed with fine facial features, halo behind. Rivet holes for attaching it to a shaft of bone or wood now lost.

Size: 6 cm. tall.

Condition: Superb, completely intact with a very deep and smooth black silver pat...

A beautiful larger hammered silver bowl, Sassanian Empire, 300-600 AD.

Size: ca. 17 cm. wide and 6 cm. tall.

Condition: Choice and intact, toned silver with patches of earthern cuprite encrustations that can be removed.

Ex. US Private Collection

Interesting and attractive tanged bronze dagger with large broad blade, North Caspian Sea area, c. 2nd. millenium BC.

The leaf-shaped blade with a broad mid-rib and raised shoulders, short tang.

Size: 29 cm.

Condition: Good Very fine, choice green patina and great metal.

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

An extralarge bronze seal with a loop on the back and elaborate floral design, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

Very impressive round seal depicting a flower with petals in the openwork style.

The seal belongs to one of the varied mostly circular metal “stamp seals” relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, but more rarely in silver or gold, which is classified as so-called “compartmented seal” (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigott – 1943....

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

A round seal with a solid cross in the center and a circle around in the openwork style. 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. See Sandro Salvatori Bactria and ...

Bactrian bronze seal, Late 3rd - Early 2nd Millennium BC. Simple design on the round base, tall handle. Beautyful brown patina - attractive!. Interesting crude design of an animal.

Condition: Superb! Exceptional brown patina!

Provenance: Johan Dæhlfeldt Estate Collection - 40 years of collecting antiquities.

PERSIAN BRONZE TORQUE
NEAR-EASTERN, 800 - 600 BC

Heavy solid bronze torque of thick rounded form, the terminals tapering to a curve point

Dimensions:
Diameter: 16 cm
Height on stand: 20 cm

Condition: Left tip of terminal is missing in antiquity otherwise intact and enjoys a beautiful patina

Nicely mounted on an acrylic "Plexi-glass"display stand of high quality

ALL ITEMS THAT WE OFFER FOR SALE COME WITH A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY
# 82847

Lovely bronze battle axe, Ancient Near East, c. 2nd. millenium BC.

Finely made battle axe with a long enforced and narrow blade with a ridge at the top and an elaborately made socket in a zoomorphic shape with a broad decorated backplate.

Size: 126 mm. long and 94 mm. tall.

Condition: Choice Extremely fine, with a lovely deep redish patina with a dusting of green and earthern highlights.

Ex. Danish private Collection, aquired at the Copenhagen antiqu...

Ancient Near East, Luristan, ca. 1200 to 800 BC. A large elaborate bronze cloak pin, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process with large 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: 22 cm. with the terminal being 3,3 cm. wide.

Condition: Superb! Wonderful dark-green patina.

Ex German Collec...

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

Very impressive round seal with a solid cross in the center and a circle around in the openwork style. The seal belongs to the group of varied mostly circular metal “stamp seals” relief cast in bronze or copper alloy, but more rarely in silver or gold, which is classified as so-called “compartmented seal” (a term first used in 1943 by the British archaeologist Stuart Pigot...

A large and impressive bronze seal with Zoomorphic handle in the shape of two bird heads, early 1st. mill. BC.

The seal very large - 5 cm. tall and weighing 56 grams. Its cast with two heads and a loop between them. The seal being round and engraved with a single symbol.

Condition: Superb, exceptional red and green patina.

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

A nice Urartian bronze with engraved animal, Western Mesopotamia, Kingdom of Urartu, early 1st. mill. BC.

A scarce type in bronze with a tubular boddy and small loop at the top.

Size: 19 mm. tall.

Condition: Very fine and intact.

Comes with imprint and original Id card.

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

This remarkable artifact is a bronze sword that dates back to the 14th and 10th century B.C. It was discovered in the North-Western Asiatic-Caspian Sea area and features a finely cast tapering double-edged blade with a median ridge. At the ricasso, there is a raised penannular panel that adds a unique touch to the sword's design. The grip is integral, with flanges to the edges that make it easy to hold, and each face is hollowed to insert a pair of grip scales. Originally, the handle would have ...

Ancient Near East, Luristan, ca. 1200 to 800 BC.

A large elaborate bronze cloak pin, cast via the lost wax (cire perdue) process with poppy flower shaped 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. The lower terminal decorated with knobs and 3 spikes.

Size: 15,8 cm.

Condition: Superb! Wonderful warm red-brown patin...

A superb and large specimen of an Old Elamite / Mespotamian type of bronze battle axe, c. early 2nd. mill. BC.

The axe well-modelled, the blade flares outward in a spectacular curve, its edge delineated as a thinner border. Thick socket with two spikes on the back and decorated with concenthric rings. The socket looks like the open mouth of a beast when viewed horisontically.

Size: c. 115 mm. wide and c. 88 mm. tall. The blade is c 80 mm. broad!

Condition: Near...

A rare bronze seal with a loop on the back and a beautiful sun-symbol on it's face, Bactria, 3rd. millenium BC.

The seal of good metal and very massive bronze, interesting variant from the usual compartement seals and much rarer.

Size: c. 3,5 cm. in diameter.

Condition: Good Very fine for type with a vivid green patina.

Comes with the original ID-card from below collection!

Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired h...

A massive and highly attractive bronze ring with winged horse and rabbit(?) below, Parthian Empire, 247 BC - 224 AD.

A deeply engraved oval bezel and oval ring ring with broad shoulders.

Ring-Size: 53-54 - male size with inner diameter of c. 20 mm.

Condition: Extremely fine for type, sound metal, wearable with a nice olive patina.

Interesting bronze stamp seal of square form with loop, Late Hittite Kingdoms, Levantine, 1st. millenium BC.

A very attractive seal with a square base, decorated sides and a fine and interesting engraving in the base.

Size: 24-25 mm. tall.

Condition: Extremely fine for type, lovely dark green patina with light deposits.

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

Interesting and very rare Bifacial bronze seal, showing both sides of a Peacock, Bactria / Indian antiquitiy, c. 1st. millenium BC.

Very attractive seal with a deep relief carving on both sides. Round and pierced for the string.

Size: 17-18 mm. in diameter and 10-11 mm. thick.

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

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

Interesting and collectable daggers! Flat, leafshaped blades and very long, twisted tangs.

Size: Up to 171 mm long.

Condition: Good Very fine, choice green patina and great metal.

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

A very rare and interesting amuletic cylinder seal with top loop, Western Mesopotamia, c. 2200-1600 BC.

The amulet seal is shaped as a tied knot of robe with a loop at the top, engravings on the sides. We have never had such a piece in stock, high unusual!

Size: Substantial - 38 mm. tall and 11 mm. wide.

Condition: Nice VF, intact with deposits and cleaning marks.

Added to the Oberländer collection in 1993. Comes with original ID card from the Oberl...

Ancient palstave axe, originating from Europe. The axe dates back to 1400-1200 B.C., making it an ancient relic of historical value. It is made of cast and polished bronze and has a typical form. The massive axe head features a dramatic flared vertical blade, a thick blade neck with a recessed triangular design, two lateral hafting flanges, and a thin stop bar.

The skilled craftsmanship showcased in the axe is a testament to the advanced metallurgical techniques of early civilizations. Its ...

A very rare type with multible knobs on a swollen head and with a tubular shaft, Caspian steppes / Indo-Iranian, later bronzeage, ca. early 1st. millenium BC.

Interestingly there's oulined a reclining animal on the socket below near the rim, perhaps a lion. Size: ca. 8,1 cm.

Condition: Superb, nice even dark-green patina with some uncleaned dirt.

Ex. Danish Collection of ancient weapons, bought at the Danish Antiquities market in the 1980-90s.

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 thou...

A fine bronze standard finial of the "Master of Animals" type, worked on both sides identically. A tube in anthropomorphic form showing a human with a long nose and jutting ears, grasping the necks of two animals. The center of the figure with a human mask and two protruding cock's heads. Western Iran, Luristan culture, c. 9th-7th century B.C. Provenance: Private Collection, Switzerland. Condition: fine, only slightly bent. With nice patina. Dimension: height: 18.2 cm.

A Kushan gold necklace delicately strung with very small ancient lapis lazuli beads (approximately 24 beads to an inch). There are 12 gold coins with images of 6 ancient kings - six on each side. There are 2 kings that we recognize - one is Vasudeva I, the other is "Ohsho" holding an elephant goad, thunderbolts, a trident and a goat. The center bead is a oblong fluted gold bead. There are also two blue glass beads flanking the central gold bead. Wearable.

Period: Kushan (2nd Centur...

Attractive and interesting bronze seal where a Lion is fighting a Bull with long horns, Neo-Babylonian c. 8th.-6th. century BC.

The seal is round and looks to have been made without handle or drill.

Size: 17 mm. in diameter.

Condition: Very fine, intact with much patina!

Added to the Oberländer collection in 2002. Comes with original ID card from the Oberländer collection and imprint! Provenance: Gustav Oberländer (1926-2012), Oberländer aquired...

Wonderful quality cast bronze whetstone handle. Luristan culture, 9th-7th century BC. A large handle measuring c. 12 cm. in length. A cast bronze implement handle with rounded socket to hold a whetstone for sharpening knifes and swords.

In the form of a three-dimensional crouching ibex with long horns curling over its back. The animal is fully rendered with limbs curled under its body and careful attention paid to the details of head and horns. Handle pierced for attachment of wh...

This exquisite ancient artifact is a bronze sword from the North-Western Asiatic "Amlash" region, which dates back to the 10th-8th century B.C. The sword was discovered in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea area and is a rare find. The intricate design of the hilt is formed of two segments, with the grip featuring a square section. The disk pommel is extended to a conical molding, making it visually striking. The penannular guard is elliptical in shape and holds a double-edged tapering blade with a...