Middle Eastern Bronze Short Sword
05
days
16
hours
25
minutes
41
seconds
Current bid
€ 15
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 1,100 - € 1,400
 | €15 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €10 | |
| €9 | |
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Middle Eastern Bronze Short Sword from the Iron Age, dating to circa 8th–7th century BC, with a 59 cm blade and 468 g weight, featuring a winged guard and archaeological condition with surface oxidation.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ancient Middle Eastern– Bronze Short Sword / Long Dagger with Winged Guard – Iron Age
Culture: Middle Eastern
Period: Iron Age
Date: circa 8th–7th century BC
Material: Bronze
Object: Short sword / long dagger blade with winged guard
Length: 59 cm
Weight: 468 g
Condition: Archaeological condition, with surface oxidation, mineral deposits, encrustations and areas of wear consistent with age. The original organic elements of the hilt are no longer preserved. Please refer carefully to the photographs for the condition.
Description
An impressive and unusually large bronze weapon blade from Middle Eastern
The weapon consists of a long and slender tapering blade, reinforced along its entire length by a pronounced central midrib.
Its most distinctive feature is the characteristic winged guard: two large curved lateral projections extend from the shoulders of the blade on either side of the short central tang. The tang originally served for the attachment of an organic hilt, probably made of wood or another perishable material, which is now lost.
The combination of the pronounced central rib, short tang and large curved wing-like guards is characteristic of a documented group of bronze weapons from North-Western Iran and the South Caspian region.
At 59 cm in length and 468 g in weight, this is a particularly substantial example of the type.
The surface preserves an extensive ancient patina with green, brown and reddish oxidation, together with mineral deposits and encrustations.
Comparable examples are discussed in:
Oscar White Muscarella, Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp. 99–100, nos. 164–165.
Important:
The attribution and dating are based on stylistic and typological comparison with published archaeological and museum parallels.
Ancient Middle Eastern– Bronze Short Sword / Long Dagger with Winged Guard – Iron Age
Culture: Middle Eastern
Period: Iron Age
Date: circa 8th–7th century BC
Material: Bronze
Object: Short sword / long dagger blade with winged guard
Length: 59 cm
Weight: 468 g
Condition: Archaeological condition, with surface oxidation, mineral deposits, encrustations and areas of wear consistent with age. The original organic elements of the hilt are no longer preserved. Please refer carefully to the photographs for the condition.
Description
An impressive and unusually large bronze weapon blade from Middle Eastern
The weapon consists of a long and slender tapering blade, reinforced along its entire length by a pronounced central midrib.
Its most distinctive feature is the characteristic winged guard: two large curved lateral projections extend from the shoulders of the blade on either side of the short central tang. The tang originally served for the attachment of an organic hilt, probably made of wood or another perishable material, which is now lost.
The combination of the pronounced central rib, short tang and large curved wing-like guards is characteristic of a documented group of bronze weapons from North-Western Iran and the South Caspian region.
At 59 cm in length and 468 g in weight, this is a particularly substantial example of the type.
The surface preserves an extensive ancient patina with green, brown and reddish oxidation, together with mineral deposits and encrustations.
Comparable examples are discussed in:
Oscar White Muscarella, Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, pp. 99–100, nos. 164–165.
Important:
The attribution and dating are based on stylistic and typological comparison with published archaeological and museum parallels.
Details
Culture
Middle Eastern
Century/timeframe
Iron Age Date: circa 8th–7th century BC
Name of object
Bronze Short Sword
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Country acquired from
France
Condition
Very good +
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1970
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
