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RARE ELABORATE INTACT NEAR EAST BRONZE AGE TANGED SPEAR HEAD FOR VOTIVE OFFERING Northwest Iran BRONZE AGE: 3500 - 3000 years ago In all aspects, this is one of the finest examples of this style bronze Luristan tanged spearheads. It is highly unusual in that it never was meant to be used but instead, was made in an elaborate, artistic style as a votive offering for burial. The curled tang end was done in ancient times and is different than the common straight point tangs meant to be embedded in a shaft. It is likely this fine example was buried with numerous other weapons just as it is - a spear head with no shaft. Often in ancient cultures, weapons are bent or rendered unusable when intended as votive offerings. Aside from the curled tang, there are other highly attractive artistic features of this spear head such as the style of the blade and the beautiful, heavy ridge running down the center which terminates at its base in a faceted surface. Lacking any eroded or missing edges or pieces, this is in the finest possible preservation. The bronze is completely solid and stable and is covered with that rich dark multi-hued green bronze patina that is so highly sought after by knowledgeable collectors. This is the first example of this quality and type we have handled and is the only one that was part of a several decades old private collection of a former resident of Iran. This collection consisted of some of the finest and rarest Luristan bronzes we have seen in museum, print or in person. Only the finest specimens were collected and this stunning example is no exception! A finely preserved specimen that is INTACT WITH NO RESTORATION and NO REPAIR. 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. FINEST PRESERVATION ON THIS RARE STYLE VOTIVE OFFERING WEAPON - INTACT AND COMPLETE! 5.85" in length SOLD R060 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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