A Luristan bronze adze-axe head featuring an undecorated, short cylindrical shaft hole, a flattened top with a vertical blade with sides that broaden out towards the convex cutting edge and a horizontal blade to the back. The adze axe was a fundamental axe of many Bronze Age ancient cultures the world over. Its form was one that lends itself to dual purposes - for war and peace. As a tool, it functions to shape wood in fabricating a variety of objects or even wooden beams for construction. As a weapon, its heavy mass and compact form made it a very deadly striking and chopping weapon, even able to defeat light armour. Measurements: Circa L 15.3cm x H 4.9cm Provenance: Formerly from a late Japanese gentleman's collection, 1970-2010.