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RARE ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN LURISTAN ROYAL BURIAL BRONZE TANGED SWORD WITH AESTHETIC MID-RIB DESIGN AND BLADE FACETS Near East ANCIENT NEAR EAST BRONZE AGE: 4000 - 3000 years ago This is a RARE authentic ancient Near Eastern bronze tanged sword of a design typically reserved for high noble warriors and royal burials. Every aspect of this super INVESTMENT-GRADE ancient bronze weapon is of the finest order. A specimen like this is truly a museum piece and seldom do sword blades shows the elaborate sculptural features and characteristics that this sword possesses. It is COMPLETE AND UNBROKEN with every original feature still intact less a handle that would have been most likely made of bone or ivory and has since been lost to decomposition over the ages prior to discovery. You can even see the outline of this former handle that has resulted in a heavier malachite copper mineral patina at what was once the former edge of the handle where the tang meets the blade (see photo above). A very dramatic double blood groove mid-rib runs down the entire blade starting at the hilt, converging from two separate originating points. This mid-rib runs across a flat faceted region of the top of the blade to a thicker faceted point of the blade which not only adds incredible geometric beauty to the design but also allows for a thick and useable blade for stabbing where it would have been needed most in the middle of the sword body. The double mid-rib then converges again as it nears the point into a single pronounced rib and again, the blade thickens in another decorative geometric facet to create a strong stabbing tip. Beyond the fact that this is one of the finest preserved examples of this design we have ever handled, it is also adorned with THE MOST PRIZED copper mineral malachite patina affording an intense rich green encrusted deposit over a dark, rich copper base bronze blade. Specimens like this are often damaged by modern digging or careless handling and / or show loss to the blade due to severe corrosion of bronze disease in areas where the blade is thin. This is NOT the case with this remarkable specimen! Entire sword is complete as it was originally made with no repair or restoration. The bronze patina is of the finest condition and quality, showing a color that is most prized by seasoned ancient bronze weapon aficionados. In keeping with proper museum ancient bronze curation techniques, this specimen has been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab to stabilize the patina and prevent modern deterioration, corrosion or bronze disease. Metal artifacts that are not treated and properly conserved may corrode over time and even disintegrate into pieces. 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. Unlike the flood of pastiche ancient bronze pieces on the market, this piece is 100% original and intact with no compositing of any additional parts to make a complete weapon. There is NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION OR FABRICATION. A well-preserved and impressive infantry blade weapon 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. 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. HIGHLY DECORATIVE BRONZE SWORD OF A DESIGN RESERVED FOR ROYAL BURIALS - INCREDIBLE PATINA AND IN PERFECT CONDITION PATINA SHOWS TRACES OF FORMER ORGANIC HANDLE THAT HAS LONG SINCE VANISHED PRIOR TO DISCOVERY 15.3" in length SOLD LUR053 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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