Iron weapons of the Ancient Near East and Eurasian nomads

1328NA
Scythian short sword (AKINAKES)
V century B.C.

Iron blade and hilt were forged as one piece. Butterfly guard is made from two iron plates. Separately made pommel is in the form of opposed stylized griffin-heads.
Intact. L. 14.75" (37.5 cm). 
For archaeological analogies in academical publication see:  
- Archaeologicheski almanah 1, Catalog sluchaynih nahodok is archaeologicheskih sobraniy Donetskoy oblasti, 1993, cat 281, fig 56.
- Melyukova A.I. Vooruzheniye skyfov. Moscow, 1964, tbl. 20.

$ 1250

423
BRONZE DAGGER,
XII-XI century B.C.
Central Asia

Flattened hilt and blade were cast in one piece. Grip terminates in ring pommel and has a slit with three bridges across one side, the opposite side is smooth with two round perforations. Intact.
L. 10.2" (25.9 cm)
See: E.C.Bunker, J.F. So. Traders and Raiders on China's Northern Frontier. Smithsonian Institution, 1995, fig. 15, cat.14; Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 322, fig. 1.

$ 1250

1329NA
Iron dart / javelin
III-II century B.C.E.

Long solid rod with narrow conical socket with reinforced ring. Triangular-shaped blade with two corners extended to barbs. Part of the wooden shaft is preserved inside. 
Length 14" (35 cm).
See archaeological analogies in academical publication: 
N.U.Limberis, I.I. Marchenko, Zoloto, Kon’, chelovek.  Sbornik statey k 60 letiyu Alexandra Vladimirovicha Simonenko, Kiev, 2012, p.415 fig.1 # 8,9.

$ 450

244
SCYTHIAN GOLD AND IRON GUARD
V century B.C.

A typical butterfly iron guard decorated with two opposed stylized griffin-head gold plaques. Each plaque has two holes for attachment with bronze pins or rivets, indicated by remains of copper oxidation products.
W. 3" (7.6 cm), L. 1.7" (4.3 cm).

$ 850

939
BRONZE AND IRON SWORD
VII century B.C.

Solid single-edged iron blade continues to grip. Hilt decorated from both sides with cast bronze plaques: termination is a wolf's head in profile. Round eyes, ears, nostrils and fur indicated by engraved lines. Guard is framed by opposed griffin heads with sharply curved beaks and bronze rivets for eyes. Between the plaques on both sides, there is bone inlay, decorated with through rivets of different diameter and design. Otherwise, the bone is decorated with engraved concentric circles. The larger portion of the blade has not survived. Length 7. 9"(20 cm).
Unique sword, see similar decoration elements published below:
Ismagil R., Sugnatov F. A. O genesise akinakov marichevskogo tipa. Ufa, archaeologicheski vestnik 2004 # 5.
Alexeev A.Y. Akinak ili mahayra? Mechi iz raskopok N.I. Veselovskogo u sela Shulgovka in 1891.\\ Drevnosti skyfskoy epeohi . M., 2006.- C. 43-65.

$ 3000

1336
Iron dagger with a bronze hilt
VIII-VII century B.C.E.
Cimmerian

Cast in one piece: conical haft with round cross section and  rectangular crossguard  with concave side.
The iron blade has not survived. Length 5.6” (14.3 cm).
For archaeological analogies in academical publication see: 
Shramko B.A. Is istorii scyfskogo vooruzheniya//Vooruzheniye Scifov i sarmatov, 1984, p. 27 fig. 2.

$ 300

1458NA
Eastern European iron spear head
V century B.C.

Slightly conical socket with hafting ring. Elongated leaf-shaped blade with pronounced central nervure. Part of the grain of the wooden shaft is preserved by the corrosion products inside. Bent. Intact.  L. 16.5" (41.9 cm).
For archaeological analogies in academical publication see: Melyukova A.I. Vooruzheniye skyfov. Moscow, 1964, tbl.14, 4.

$ 375

1289NA
Eastern European iron spear head
VI century B.C.

Narrow conical and folded socket. Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced central nervure. Small fragment at the base missing, otherwise intact. Length 13.5" (34.5 cm).

For archaeological analogies in academical publication see: 
- S. Alexandrov, Gold and Bronze. Metals, Technologies and Interregional Contacts in the Eastern Balkans during the Bronze Age. National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Sofia 2018,  p.555 cat # 599
- O.Mogylov, New studies of the mounds of the Scythian time in the west of the East European Forest-Steppe, 2012 , fig. 2.

$ 375

1455NA
Eastern European iron spear head
III century B.C.

Conical split socket with fragments of the wooden shaft preserved by the corrosion products inside. Elongated blade with shoulders. Corroded, surface covered with resoluble acrylic film. L. 16.3" (41.4 cm).
For archaeological analogies in academical publication see: 
- V. S. Sinika, N. P. Telnov (Kishinev, Moldova).Antiquities, Study. Issues. Tiraspol, Moldova, 2018, Scythian Barrow 116 of the First Half of the 3rd Century BC Near Glinoe Village, fig. 13:4.
- Melyukova A.I. Vooruzheniye skyfov. Moscow, 1964, tbl. 14

$ 300

1290NA
Eastern European iron spear head
VI century B.C.E.

Conical socket. Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced central nervure and folded socket. Part of the grain of the wooden shaft is preserved by the corrosion products inside. Intact. Length 11.75" (30cm).

See: 
- S. Alexandrov, Gold and Bronze. Metals, Technologies and Interregional Contacts in the Eastern Balkans during the Bronze Age. National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Sofia 2018,  p.555 cat # 599
- O.Mogylov, New studies of the mounds of the Scythian time in the west of the East European Forest-Steppe, 2012, fig. 2.
- Melyukova A.I. Vooruzheniye skyfov. Moscow, 1964, tbl.12.

$ 300

1291NA
Iron spear head
Eastern Europe
VI century B.C.

Conical socket. Leaf-shaped blade with pronounced central nervure and folded socket. Part of the grain of the wooden shaft is preserved by the corrosion products inside. Intact. Length 11.5" (29cm).
For archaeological analogies in academical publication see: - S. Alexandrov, Gold and Bronze. Metals, Technologies and Interregional Contacts in the Eastern Balkans during the Bronze Age. National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Sofia 2018,  p.555 cat # 599
- O.Mogylov, New studies of the mounds of the Scythian time in the west of the East European Forest-Steppe, 2012, fig. 2.
- Melyukova A.I. Vooruzheniye skyfov. Moscow, 1964, tbl.12.

$ 300

967
BRONZE CHAPE
VII century B.C.

Cast bronze. Three-dimensional openwork chape formed by two convex surfaces of crouching feline figures. Figures are connected along the spine, ears and paws. Eyes, mouth and tail indicated by indented lines.
L. 2.9" (7.3 cm).
See: E. Reeder. Scythian Gold. Harry N. Abrams inc., N.Y., 1999, cat. # 8, 249.

$ 2000

966
BRONZE CHAPE
VI-V century B.C.

Cast bronze. Chape with rectangular cross-section and an opening through in the center. Face side depicting two mirror images of elk's head in profile. Details of the face and ear are indicated by grooves; large eye rimmed by a raised ring; the jaw curves up in a volute. The reverse is undecorated. Mended, missing fragment (ancient loss).
L. 2.6" (6.5 cm).
See: The Golden Deer of Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2000, cat. 155.

$ 1000

255
BRONZE MACE OR SCEPTER
LURISTAN
VIII-VII c. B.C.

Cast in one piece cylinder with pyramidal spikes, rhomboidal in cross section, through hole of a conical shape. Finial of this type must be mounted on poles, which have not survived. At the top, in the shallow groove under the collar, there is a hole, perpendicular to the axis, with remains of a pin for attachment to the pole.
D. 1.6"(4 cm), H. 1.6"(4 cm).
See: Calmeyer P. Datierbare Bronzen aus Luristan und Kirmanshah, in Untersuchungen zur Assyriologie und vorderasiatischen Archäologie 5, 1969, pg119; L. Vanden Berghe, Les tombes de l'age du fer au Luristan. La necropole deDjub-i Gauhar, in: Archeologia 138, 1980. pg. 32ff; Mit Hieb und Stich. Bronzewaffen aus dem alten Iran. Die Sammlung von Grawert. Frakfurt am Main, 2001. pg. 65.

$ 1250

422
BRONZE KNIFE,
XII-XI century B.C.
Central Asia

The handle and blade were cast in one piece forming a curve. Handle decorated with beaded borders along the edges and terminated by ring pommel with three knobs.
L. 8.9"(22.5 cm).
See: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 322, fig. 1.

$ 950

932
BRONZE KNIFE,
IX-VIII century B.C.

Cast. Single-edged knife with triangular cross-section, rectangular handle and hooked tip. Triangular opening for suspension.
L. 6.8" (17.3 cm).
See: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 306, fig. 6.

$ 425

247
SCYTHIAN BOAR TUSK BOW TIP
V century B.C.

The wide end of the tusk has been carved to represent the head of canine in right profile. Its open jaws exposing the animal's teeth and fangs, ears pressed flat against wavy, long hair on his neck, round eye with underlined lid.
L. 2.2 (5.7 cm ).

Christie's NY, Antiquities, 12/07/2000, lot # 712.
For similar bow tips see: E. Reeder. Scythian Gold. Harry N. Abrams inc., N.Y., 1999, cat. # 34-35; for similar iconography see cat. # 12, 49.

$ 2500