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Luristan bronze dagger

Price: on request
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Object number
AR2890C
Object: Luristan bronze dagger

Material: Bronze.

Period: Around 1100 BC to 900 BC.
Iron Age I.

Description:    Luristan bronze dagger. Handle with raised rim for insertion of grips and decorative grooves along the outside. The grip tapers gradually from the pommel. Long, slim blade, tapering to the front. A decorative crescent shape is on both sides between the grip and the blade.

Background: 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: 37,5cm long, 5,5cm wide.

Condition: Excellent condition. Only minor chips, otherwise fully intact, apart from the original grip insert that is usually missing for these type of daggers. The bronze is covered by a nice strong patina.

Provenance: Acquired by us in 2019 from a Munich based auction house. Previously in a French private collection built in the 1960ies.

References: Similar G. Zahlhaas, Die Sammlung Marie-Luise und Dr. Thomas Dexel (2003), p. 114, no. 172.

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.