Marlik Sword with Decorated Hilt
14th-10th century B.C. A bronze sword with flanged hilt, penannular guard and strong midrib running to the pointed tip, hilt and pommel open to accept inlays, bronze fastening nail still visible in the pommel. Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran - The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, p.400, cat.41, for identical type. 477 grams, 39 cm (15 3/8 in.). Ex S. Motamed collection.with Bellman's Auctions, 20th-26th June 2015, lot 2482.Property of a London gentleman. According to Khorasani and Negahban, blade and grip of this kind of swords were cast in one-piece mould. The penannular guard was later added to the blade.