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SET OF SIX HEAVY ANCIENT BRONZE LURISTAN WAR CELT AXES Afghanistan BRONZE AGE: 4000 - 3500 years ago This is an exceptional set of SIX Near Eastern ancient cast bronze celt axes. This type of axe is often absent from collections. These celt axes were the first ever axe design, having originated from the styles of the Neolithic Age where stone axes were ground and polished in this style and hafted onto wooden shafts. When metal use in weapons was first employed, the design was retained and translated into copper and later bronze. The weapons were highly effective and its heavy cast design made for a deadly blow to both armored and unarmored opponents. This scarce set displays SIX specimens of large and heavy as well as more refined and thinner designs. The largest specimen of the collection represents pretty much the maximum size that is usually known and found. There is one rare thin narrow specimen as well as a scarce notched butt example. The axes are heavily patinated and some edges show damage but they are otherwise spectacular examples for a bargain price for all six. Each specimen has been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab. The patina shows beautiful traits only found in authentic ancient weapons. 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. This is a great set of ancient bronze blade weapons for a museum display. All specimens are with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION OR FABRICATION. A fine set of impressive infantry striking weapons from this famous Bronze Age culture. WARNING: There is an increasing 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 to fake these weapons. We have personally handled numerous extremely well-done fakes with extremely 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 that can be found in parts of present-day Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. 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. SCARCE SET OF SIX HEAVY SOLID BRONZE WAR CELT AXE HEADS - THIS TYPE OF AXE IS OFTEN ABSENT FROM COLLECTIONS OF NEAR EASTERN BRONZE WEAPONS - SUPERB ANCIENT PATINAS 8" - 4.25" in lengths SOLD LUR040 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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1750 |