Bob L's Top 10 Not-Coins for 2021

Once again, I "collected" coins mostly vicariously this year (as I’ve done for several years running), through members of CT and CCF. I actually sold many more coins than I purchased this year, a trend that will continue through this spring at least.

For several years my focus has been directed toward antiquities – and, in particular, toward ancient weaponry from Western Asia, as well as toward ancient pottery from across regions and cultures (but with a particular fondness for ware from ancient Iran). Included below are perhaps my ten faves from the collecting year. I’ve got a bunch of runners-up, though. I’ll post them over in Curtisimo’s “[Ancients] Top 10 Index”. Thank you, Curtisimo, for maintaining the master list of lists.

I am currently negotiating for what remains of an ancient sword from a very important weapons collection – but, even if I manage to snag that one before year’s end, it’ll have to be included on my list next year.

10.

Bucchero Ware Kantharos
c. 7th century BC
14.6 cm (w) x 12 cm (h)
(5.75” x 4.75”)
Description:
Flared conical foot, tall arching handles (one missing), notched ridge around body at base of handles.
Ex-Marcel Gibrat Collection

9.
In addition to collecting more-or-less intact ancient pottery, I also occasionally acquire sherds (a.k.a. potsherds). I particularly like two of the Greek sherds I picked up this year. One of them made this list (below). The other will be among my runners-up in the other thread.

Greek Sherd
c. 5th century BC
44 mm x 28 mm
(1.75” x 1.1”)
Description:
Red-figure pottery sherd depicting a winged female…Nike?
Ex-Connecticut private collection

8.

Juglet
4th – 3rd century BC
51 mm (w) x 66 mm (h)
(1 ¾” x 2 ½”)
Description:
Blackware, bulbous body, flared rim, strap handle.

7.

Dagger
Luristan
c. 1000 BC
36.8cm (14.5")
Cf. Moorey (Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum), Pl. 6, Fig. 51
Description:
Bronze, lower portion of hilt cast in imitation of an inlaid flanged hilt, complete with guard flanges, pommel divided into two semicircular "ears," broad flat midrib down the blade.

6.

Vessel
Western or NW Iran
Early first millennium BC (Iron Age II)
18.4 cm (w) x 13.3 cm (h)
(7 ¼” x 5 ¼”)
Description:
Large, round body, “bird beak spout” with open channel projecting from one side of rim, small loop handle, adorno below handle (Ram’s head? Bird in flight?).

5.

Spearhead
Marlik (NW Iran)
1200-800 BC
45.2 cm
(17.8”)
Cf. Negahban (Weapons from Marlik), Pl. VI, Fig. 69-75
Description:
Bronze, elongated triangular blade with gently curved shoulders and a rectangular-sectioned midrib tapering toward a sharp point, rat tail tang with button end.
Ex-Allan Stone Collection, NY

4.

Vessel
Western or NW Iran
Early first millennium BC (Iron Age II)
23.5 cm (w) x 22.9 cm (h)
(9.25” x 9”)
Description:
Large, round body, "bird beak spout" with open channel projecting from one side of rim, some losses (to handle, rim, and spout), long but stable body crack.
Ex-Arthur M. Sackler collection. [Sackler (1913-1987) was one of America's preeminent collectors of Asian and ancient art.]

3.

Oil Lamp
Greek
c. 4th century BC
10.3 cm (l) x 70 mm (w) x 44 mm (h)
(4” x 2.75” x 1.75”)
Description:
Circular base, bulbous circular body, elongated spout, black glaze (mostly intact), some chipping
Ex-Rolf Ivarsson Collection, Linkoping, Sweden; acquired 1940’s-1970’s.

2.

Olpe
c. 4th century BC
Magna Graecia
86.4 mm (w) x 81.3 mm (h)
(3.4" x 3.2”)
Description:
Blackware, some chips, repaired from sherds.
Ex-Douglas Haner Collection, acquired in the 1960s.

1.
My favorite pickup this year is a very rare but iconic type of ancient Iranian (Luristani) “sword”. Technically, based on its length, this type of weapon should be called a “dirk” rather than sword. But, in any event, these are popularly known as “iron mask swords.” There are estimated to be around 90 extant examples of these. I’m pleased to now own one, despite its poor condition.


Iron Mask Sword
Luristan
c. 1000 BC
44.45 cm (17 ½”)
Cf. Khorasani (Arms and Armor from Iran), Cat. 21-27
Cf. Khorasani (Luristan and Marlik: Centers of Weapon Making in Ancient Iran, from Marlik, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2012), Fig. 8
Cf. Muscarella (Bronze and Iron, Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art), Fig. 303
Description:
Blade and handle made of different iron parts, cast and forged together. Disk-shaped pommel with protomes mounted on opposite sides (details shown left and right in image), two molded cords on grip, guard adorned on each side with a couchant predator (difficult to make out in this specimen, details at bottom), blade set at 90-degrees to handle. For more info:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/board/index.php?topic=119753.msg760751#msg760751

 

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As a collector of ancient artifacts myself, I think these are wonderful. I like all the sharp ones, but my favorite is the ancient Greek potsherd. (Potshard? Is there a difference?) I believe you're right that it must be Nike.

 

I really like the zoomorphic form of the vessel, #6.

 

Not coins but great collector items! Congratulations!

 

great items, #3 & #5 are impressive. I have a few lamps, but none are glazed like yours, impressive. I like the writing on the bottom.

 

Thanks, all.

 

Like Donna, I also love artifacts/ antiques/ weapons. Your examples are exquisite and historic!!!!!
Thanks for showing them/ really nice.
John

 

Bob, What a wonderful group of artifacts ! #5, the huge spearhead is the finest I've seen . I imagine it had to be attached to a spear much to heavy to throw, or maybe it was a ceremonial object made for burial with an important warrior...

 

Great artifacts, @Bob L.

I like your bronze weapons selection. I used to collect ancient weaponry and small figurines. Still have a few inscribed bronze arrowheads, spearheads and I think a bronze sword.

Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks for the comments, folks. For those who have expressed interest in the weaponry, here's my collection as it stands right now:
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=7069

 

Wow, that's quite a collection!

As for this year's top ten, I like the black glazed pottery items best.

 

Thanks, TIF!

 

I wouldn't dare collecting artifacts myself in fear of being ripped off with fakes, but I find them fascinating. Thanks for showing them

Q

 

Wow, that's an incredible collection. I actually have no weapons in my collection of close to 100 ancient artifacts.

 

Thank you, Donna. I've spotted some of your antiquities from time to time as I lurk here at CT - and greatly admired them. Wonderful items.

 

An amazing collection Bob! Thank you for sharing. Like TIF, I'm most drawn to the black-glazed Greek pottery. I'll bet your house would make a great museum!

 

Thanks, John:

 

@Bob L..Beautiful pieces Bob!!....And what a wonderful couple of display cabinets
As you know I really love those "Bird beak spouts" and that "Iron mask sword" Wow!
Nice layout with the ceramics and bronzes muted colours really complimenting each other.....Impressive collection!....Paul

 

very neat artifacts Bob!

 

Appreciate the comments.