Catalog (108)

Here we have an incredible example of an ancient iron sword from Northern Iran, possibly Amlash, circa 900 BCE. It has a saddle-shaped pommel with extensive geometric decor on the hilt. The iron blade, though deteriorated, is still intact. The slender and elegant weapon has survived millennia just to be in your collection. There is a crack near the guard area visible in the photos. This fragile and beautiful piece measures 60.5 cm in length in its current condition. There are no visible repairs ...

This is a very nice two-ring bronze sword from the Warring States period of ancient China. It comes from an old German collection. It appears to have been cleaned and then treated with wax to preserve the finish. The final photograph shows a closeup of the patina with the remnants of the sealing wax. There is also a museum or collection marked written on the blade. There is some pitting to the blade surface but overall it is solid and stable. The total weight is 545 grams and the total length ...

This is a very nice bronze sword from the Spring and Autumn Period of ancient China (circa 770-476). This piece has a beautiful golden brown color. The blade is very heavy with a prominent midrib and beveled blade edges. The hollow round handle has what appear to be a few small casting flaws where there is loss to the metal. The rest of the piece is very solid and stable. Weapons of this type are becoming increasingly difficult to find. The overall length of the piece is right at 50cm and the we...

This rare, triangular blade ge appears to have been exposed to a process during manufacture that created a mottled appearance on the surface. This surface treatment is known to have been performed on pieces manufactured in southeast Asia during the Eastern Zhou period. Though its original lustre is long lost, evidence of its former beauty is still evident on portions of the blade. The overall patina is a deep brown mixed with shades of green. There are some losses to the edges of the blade a...

This is a copper alloy dagger or short sword. It has an interesting patina consisting primarily of light to medium green tones (likely malachite) mottled with red and reddish brown areas (likely copper oxides). There are areas where the deep brown, lightly corroded base metal is still visible and somewhat lustrous. The entire hilt, including the crescent-shaped pommel, is bordered by a thick and even ridge which would have served to contain the grip scales made of bone, wood, or ivory. The sca...

This is an amazing copper alloy spear head from ancient China - likely dating to the late Zhou dynasty. It was excavated in what is now the Sichuan province and I believe it to be from the Ba or Ba-Shu culture. Liewen, tao-tie and other decorations are incised into the socket area on both sides. The socket extends almost to the tip of the spear and has remnants of the wooden shaft inside. The delicate attachment loops are still intact. There are no signs of repair or restoration to this fabulou...

This is a beautifully decorated bronze socketed spear point from Sichuan Province. It is most likely from the Ba or Ba-Shu minority culture that flourished in that area. The style and decor are reminiscent of the Shang period but as was often the case with minority culture pieces, this probably dates to a few centuries later. It's delicate attachment loops on either side are still intact and there are no signs of repair. It has a central reinforcing rib and decorations on two surfaces that shoul...

Just released from my personal collection is this fantastic set of three pieces that date circa ancient China's Western Zhou period; a decorated bronze dagger axe with and accompanying horse bridle fitting decorated with coiled snakes, and a bird finial. All three pieces were purportedly uncovered together. The bridle fitting was partially cleaned to reveal the magnificent coiled snake decor. The bird finial appears to have originally been inlaid but the material is now gone. The dagger axe...

This is a great example of a bronze dagger axe or ge. These weapons are unique to the ancient cultures of China and were in use throughout the bronze age. Characteristics of this piece suggest it would date to the Wester Zhou period (ca 700 BC) or possibly even earlier. It is small, with only two perforations for lashing to a pole. It weighs 179 grams. It measures 16.2 cm in length and 8.15 cm in height. It is very heavy, solid and stable with no signs of repair or restoration. It has a rich, gr...

This is a bronze, socketed axe or spade from ancient China. Pieces such as this one are generally attributed to the Shang Dynasty (1700 BC—1100 BC). The piece is shaped like a wedge when viewed from the side, which would make in an ideal cutting tool. The heavy, flat blade with rounded edges extends from the socket laterally. The blade is slightly wider near distal edge than at the “shoulders”. The socket is rectangular in shape. The hollow portion of the socket end roughly concurren...

This is an absolutely astonishing find! This pair of crossbow mechanisms is from the Han dynasty (Circa 100AD) of ancient China. This pair is from the collection of the late Dr Robert Ellsworth and was auctioned by Sotheby's roughly 10 years ago. Both of these mechanisms are solid and stable but the parts are semi-fused due to age. They move but only a little. The unique thing about this pair is that both pieces are inscribed with the armory and date of manufacture (among other things)on the sid...

This is a beautiful short sword from ancient Persia (circa 1200 BC). It has a leaf-shaped blade with three raised ribs that meet to form a strong central blood groove. The piece appears strong and stable with no signs of repair or restoration. It measures just over 35 cm in length and weighs 338 grams.

This incredible piece is a large bronze spear from the early Zhou Dynasty (circa 700 BC) of ancient China. It was formerly in the famous collection of Arthur M. Sackler. This piece is in amazing condition for its age and is one of the largest if its type we have ever seen. It measures 27 cm in length and weighs 392 grams. There are no signs of repair or restoration. Don't miss this opportunity to add a rare and provenanced piece to your collection.

This is a beautiful bronze sword from ancient Persia (circa 1300 BC). It has a somewhat unique design in the form of a "tiered" blade. There are three separate tiers on the blade. One is an oval shape near the tang, one area is between the oval area and the tip and the third tier is the tip itself. It is a curious design we have not seen previously and would look great in your collection. The end of the tang appears to have been broken at a perforation but the piece is in otherwise excellent con...

This is a museum quality example of a very rare word type from the ancient middle East.It has a hollow cast, mushroom shaped pommel and a heavy, crescent shaped guard. The blade is long and heavy with several blood grooves cast into it. There are no signs of repair or restoration to this amazing piece of ancient history. The overall length of this exquisite piece is 55 cm.

This is a fantastic find. It is an early Persian anchor-shaped axe dating to roughly 2200-2000 BC. This piece is stable and solid with only a few losses to the shaft/guard area. This piece weighs 466 grams and measures 12 cm from top to bottom. It is roughly 3 cm thick at the shaft holes. A similar piece in the Axel Guttmann collection sold at auction for over $3000 several years ago. Additional photos available on request. Authenticity is guaranteed.

This is an extraordinarily rare bronze arrow point from ancient China. Textual references for this type are scarce as well which is a testament to the rarity of the object itself. The point has very intricately cast details and finely ground edges and points. The extra long tang is intact and appears to be as straight as the day it was made. The arrow point dates to the Warring States period of ancient China.

This is a fabulous bronze axe from ancient China. Socketed axes of thus type were typical to the Northern tribes in Shang and Early Zhou periods (circa 1100 BC). This particular type is quite rare and rarely seen in private collections.