Luristan bronze dagger
€1,150
available
Object number
AR3322-02
| Object: |
Luristan bronze dagger
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| Material: |
Bronze.
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| Period: |
1100 BC to 900 BC. Iron Age I. |
| Description: |
Luristan bronze dagger. Handle with raised rim for insertion of grips. Metal plates were once attached to the rim and held the grip inserts. The grip widens gradually from the pommel. Long, slim blade, tapering to the front.
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| Background: |
Daggers were the standard weapons of Luristan warriors. The different types of daggers were named by archaeologists according to their type of handle. For the raised rim daggers, the vertical edge around the grip is the decisive feature. Initially, riveted blades were used for daggers in Luristan. The 14th century BC saw daggers with handle which were made from a single piece of bronze. The edge surrounding the handle contained an insert, often consisting of bone, wood or metal. The raised rim daggers were otherwise simply designed and generally did not have elaborate decorations, as are known from axe heads of the same period. In the 10th century BC the full bronze daggers were replaced by iron weapons. |
| Dimensions: |
38.5cm long.
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| Condition: |
Very good condition. Some ancient or recent damage to the edges, in particular the lobes that once held the grip inlays are largely missing. Body otherwise fully intact and covered with an attractive green patina.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the German art market in 2022. Previously in the German Pladeck family collection. Acquired into the collection in the 1960s or earlier, presumably from the art trade.
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| References: |
Cf. P. R. S. Moorey, Ancient Bronzes from Luristan (BM, 1974), plate II, A (BM 123060). Cf. G. Zahlhaas, Luristan, Antike Bronzen aus dem Iran, page 32, cat. 44. |
| Literature: |
St John Simpson and Susan La Niece, New light on old swords from Iran. The British Museum Technical Research Bulletin, Volume 4 (2010). Moorey, Ancient Bronzes from Luristan (BM, 1974), pages 23f. Bonnet, Die Waffen der Völker des Alten Orients, pages 42ff. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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