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ELABORATE ANCIENT BRONZE LURISTAN WAR AXE Afghanistan BRONZE AGE: 4000 - 3500 years ago This is a complete cast bronze war shaft axe from the Luristan bronze culture. It possesses both, exceptional and solid preservation as well as a prized NATURAL GREEN patina. It is a patina like this that the finest ancient bronzes are prized for and it is a patina like this that brings a premium in price and value of the specimen. Design of this axe matches several known and published specimens. Top opening of axe shaft features a stylized creature with open mouth. Blade is a beautiful broad and high halberd-style design. This is truly a demonstration of the wonderful art of the Luristan military weaponry and a classic example of the artistry that has made Luristan bronzes famous around the world to all collectors and cultures. No other Bronze Age ancient culture produced such elaborate weaponry as the peoples of what was once the ancient region of Luristan. Repair to the shaft hole portion of the axe on both sides is well-disguised and does not detract considering the unusual beauty and rarity of this specimen. Such repair keeps this otherwise rare specimen in an affordable range. The highly aesthetic design more than compensates for this repair. Specimen has NO FABRICATION OR RESTORATION and only this repair is present. Adding to the appeal of this spectacular design is a rich, dark green patina that collectors of ancient bronzes rave over. A rare and wonderfully decorated axe from the Near East Bronze Age. WARNING: There is an increasingly alarming number of fake Near Eastern (Luristan) bronze weapons on the market. As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more sophisticated, we have personally handled some extremely well-done fakes with seemingly convincing patinas. The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals. It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas. All purchases should include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee. The term LURISTAN references artifacts made by a society of semi-nomadic people that once lived in the mountainous region of Northwest Iran. Little is known of this ancient culture but the most impressive traces are that of the bronze artifacts they left behind. These include highly decorative equipment for their horses, ceremonial containers and numerous weapons ranging from simple utilitarian pieces on up to elaborate masterpieces of warfare. It is theorized that the Luristan bronzes were crafted by the earliest existence of the Median empire but this has never been proven as written records of the Medes have not survived. The Medes were Indo-Iranian people originally from central Asia who settled in Northwest Iran in the 9th century BC and later defeated the Assyrian empire in 614 BC. Their success is short-lived and their empire which once stretched from central Iran to the Persian Gulf and Anatolia was overrun in 550 BC by the Persians. ELABORATE DECORATIVE DESIGN WITH CHOICE NATURAL GREEN PATINA 4"x 3.6" overall $675 LUR006 Actual Item - One Only |
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