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Weapons of the Bronze Age:

This tomb painting is from the tomb of Rekhmire.
He was a governor of Thebes in Egypt during the reigns of Tuthmosis III
and his son Amenophis II during the New Kingdom, circa 1430 BC BCE.
This painting shows the basic techniques of the metal workers casting bronze.



length 16 1/4"

S OLD

Available for Immediate delivery
From the Estate of Astronaut Jim Irwin

Luristan Dagger
Presented to Jim Irwin
by the Shaw of Iran

Comes with letter from Jim Irwin's widow, explaining how the piece was awarded to Jim for his accomplishments as an astronaut.

For a collector of antiquities this piece has a very unique provenance associated with Middle Eastern and American History

Price $3,000.00

E-mail: for information write comstock@artsales.com

When living in Sedona Arizona in the 1990's I spent many years as an instructor for art students at the Sedona Art Center and in my foundry. Part of the instruction presented to students was on the history of the bronzing process. Early in my career I had developed an interest in the bronze age cultures which had advanced the use of copper in art and ancient weapons and I kept a portfolio of my studies and findings on ancient crafting in bronze for the students to access if they had an interest.

The skills and abilities of the ancient metallurgist and craftsman speaks volumes about the level of trade in metals and the metallurgical abilities shown in their individual cultures. The degree of sophistication in use during the crafting of these artifacts should not be underestimated. The universal application of the technology of bronzing techniques suggests interconnectedness between bronze age cultures.

The most highly developed archeological site which attests to this phenomena dates to the 13 Century BCE, "The 13th century BCE ship wreck at Uluburn", excavated by Dr. Sam Bass and the INA at the university of Texas. Within the context of this 13th century BCE ship wreck was a horde of ancient weapons. The archeological excavation of this site began in the early 1980's, therefore it has been less than three decades since the findings relating to this earliest of ship wrecks have been published. The promise of other wrecks dating to the same time period revealing more of the history of the shipping trade in ancient times is an eminent reality for the archeological community.

The Mesopotamian fable of the "The Epic of Gilgamesh" suggests that this universal travel via seafaring happened as early as the 25th century BCE at least the epic story is the first literature dedicated to the accounts of the earliest seafaring explorers. Archeological finds attest to seafaring ships built by the Egyptians traveling the high seas during the construction of the earliest Pyramids. The funerary chapel of Sahure contained illustrations of the ships used during this period by the Egyptians and the royal Tombs of Ur contained models of ships made of clay from the 25th Century BCE.

Decoration  showing a lion hunt on a bronze age dagger from Pylos
This silver and gold Inlay from a Mycenean Dagger Blade depicts a Lion hunt and displays spears, shields and slings used in the historic period of 1600 BCE.

To paraphraze the Biblical book of Genisis Chapter 10 1-5 the decendants of Japhteth the Son of Noah explored the world in their ships and became the seafaring nations. This story line is most likely a reference to the fact that people from Mesopotamia dedicated themselves to world exploration via seafaring.

Generally speeking the impact of seafaring on the colonization of the planet seems to have been greatly underestimated and the evidence for this Phemomena in prehistory is emerging from the archeological records. Improved forensic and dating technologies are creating new evidence that needs additional analysis. The emerging art of underwater archeology promises the discovery of additional (time capsules) such as the Uluburan ship wreck, which will add information to the historic record.

The questions remain, from where, to where and when did the most ancient of seafarers venture??

See the following links:

Epic of Gilgamesh

The Ships Of Antiquity

Invasion of the Sea Peoples

Swords and daggers 12 th century BCE Swords and daggers 12 th century BCE

Details from wall panels at Mendinet Habu 12 th Century BCE, Egypt, showing the long swords and short swords (daggers) of the Sherek (Mycenaeans). To either side are illustrations of the sword blades and handles from Mycenean archeological finds. The sword and dagger illustrations are composites created in photoshop.


Bronze Casting of Soldier found in a middle bronze age context on Sardinia showing similar horned Helmet to the illustrations at Mendinet Habu. This statue suggests part of the Sea Peoples forces came from Sardinia.

 

In many cases, at least in Sedona, the students were interested in the imagery of the indigenous indian cultures and many of the techniques used by the Southwestern Indian in crafting their Jewelry.

I taught in my classes that the same techniques used by the ancients were applicable to modern design and the execution of the students concepts. The history of these techniques hopefully inspired confidence that if this art form had been executed for over 6,000 years their individual success at executing their personal projects was eminent.

This page is only part of a growing portfolio of these references to the ancient bronze arts. I hope these images spark an interest in the study of the time and place from/or in which these implements were crafted.



Mycenaean Seal stone and its impression show a Charioteer and spear thrower in a lightweight wicker chariot circa 1600 BCE

Bronze Age Daggers


The images above were created in Photo shop by assembling various parts of bronze age artifacts from Archeological finds .
Note to Readers**:
Some of the images on this page are of actual artifacts and others are assembled and enhanced in photoshop.

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1 .2. Golden Daggers From the Royal Tombs of Ur
2500 BCE , Collection of The Chicago Oriental Institute

3. Gold Handled Dagger with Bronze Blade from Knosos the Island Of Crete
1800 BCE, Enhanced in Photoshop

4. 5. 6. Mycenaean Gold Handled Daggers from Pylos
approximately 1600 BC

5. and 6. Reconstructed and created in photoshop from parts, handles and blades.
Parts are Mycenaean 1600 BCE



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7. AHMOSE ( NEBPEHTYRA) Ceremonial Dagger 18th dynasty, 1550 - 1525 BC

8 . Egyptian Bronze Dagger with Ivory Handle 1550 BCE, The Louvre Museum,  Paris France

9. TUTANKHAMUN ( NEBKHEPERURA - TUTANKHATEN ) circa. 1336 - 1327 BC Gold Blade , craftsmanship shows distinct Influences from the Peloponnesian and/or Aegean cultures

10. Dagger gold Achaemenid Dynasty VI century BC, Iran

11. Bronze Dagger from Hebron in Canaan 1900 BCE with bone handle.
A similar dagger may have been used by the Biblical Abraham in the story of the Sacrifice of Isaac. This dagger is an interpretation composed in Photoshop using a blade from Hebron and a Bone Handle from Malta, both artifacts are from the middle bronze age.

12. Bronze Dagger From Luristan (Iran) 1500 BCE

Swords and Scimitars


These images are conceptual composites of what the personal Swords
and Daggers of Hyram Of Tyre and/or King Solomon might have
looked like in the 9th Century BCE. These are illustrations
created in photoshop and not to be confused with
an actual swords or archeological finds.

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13. Bronze sword from Hajdusamson,Hungary 1600 BCE

14. Pair of Mycenaean Bronze swords with guilded handles 16th Century BCE, see in the illustration above that a similar sword was
illustrated at Mendinet Habu in 1200 BCE

15. Myceneanean Sword with Gold Handle 1600 BCE, Composite illustration of blade and handle from Pylos created in Photoshop.

16. Short Bronze Sword, Luristan Culture of North Western Iran 15th Century BCE.

17. Persian Sword with double pommel handle 900 BCE.

18. Amlash Culture Iran Bronze Sword 13th Century BCE

19. Sardinian Sword blade with Mycenean Handle Circa 1600 BCE


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20. Bronze Age sword Canaanite, 13th century BCE
source INA, University of Texas, Uluburan Wreck

21. Bronze sword of the British Isles from the 2nd Millennia BCE

22. Bronze Sword from Eastern Germany Circa 1000 BCE

23. Rapier Blade Wessex Culture British Isles circa 14th Century BCE

24 . Symitar from the Royal Tombs of UR Circa 2500 BCE

25 . Symitar from Egyptian New Kingdom (1570 - 1070 BCE)


Scythian warriors as portrayed on Greek Pottery of the fifth century BCE. Their weapons of choice are slings, bow and arrows and swords, while they have costumed the horses to look like the sacred Ibex.

26. Scythian sword case from the fifth Century BCE. During this timeframe the Scythian Culture created gold artifacts of unsurpassed beauty, in my opinion the esthetics of the artistry in these items has never been improved upon or equaled.

Scythian Gold showing ancient weapons




Scythian Gold depicting weapons and dress of Scythian Warriors
5th Century BC

 

The griffin played a prominent role in the Iconography of the Scythian Culture. In the history of the Peloponnesian Peninsula the Mycenaeans used the Icon of the griffin as did the Minoan's. The prominent use of the same symbol in Scythia 1000 years later in history strongly suggests a connectedness between these cultures which may have constituted a shared culture and trade.

This page was published by Comstock Sculpture Studio for Artsales.com.
Please Direct all Inquiries about content to:

Comstock Sculpture Studio
1201 West Thornton Parkway #313
Thornton C0. 80260 
Telephone (303) 657 9778

E-mail: comstock07@artsales.com


 

 

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