axe

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Object Type
Museum number: 123268
Description: Cast axe-head; tin bronze inlaid with silver; shows a boar attacking a tiger which is attacking an ibex.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 2500BC-2000BC
Production place: Made in: Iran, East (?)
Findspot: Found/Acquired: Pakistan, North-West Frontier Province
Materials: bronze; silver
Technique: cast; inlaid
Dimensions: Height: 11 centimetres; Length: 17 centimetres; Weight: 675.50 grammes; Depth: 3.50 centimetres
Curator's comments: See RL file 6616 (29/6/1995); also Research Lab file 4992 of 12/09/1983 where XRF analysis of surface indicates composition as tin bronze with approx 10% tin and traces of arsenic, nickel, silver and lead. Dalton's inclusion in the 'Catalogue of the Oxus Treasure' among a small group of comparative items has unfortunately led to recurrent confusion over the date and provenance of this piece. It was first believed to be Achaemenid in date (Dalton, 'Catalogue of the Oxus Treasure', p. 48), labelled as such in 1975 in the former Iranian Room and thus suggested to be an Achaemenid scabbard chape (P R S Moorey CORRES 1975, based on an example said to have been excavated by P. Bernard at Ai Khanoum or seen by him in Kabul Bazaar, cf. P. Bernard CORRES 1976). It has also been assigned a 4th-5th century AD Sasanian date (P. Amiet, 1967, in 'Revue du Louvre' 17, pp. 281-82). However, its considerably earlier - late 3rd mill. BC Bronze Age - date has now been clearly demonstrated following the discovery of large numbers of objects of related form in south-east Iran and Bactria, and it has since been recognised and/or cited as such, for instance by H. Pittmann (hence archaeometallurgical analysis in 1983; R. Maxwell-Hyslop, 1988a, "British Museum axe no. 123628: a Bactrian bronze", 'Bulletin of the Asia Institute' 1 (NS), pp. 17-26; F. Hiebert & C.C. Lamberg-Karlovsky 1992a, "Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian Borderlands",' Iran' 30, p. 5; B. Brentjes, 1991a, "Ein tierkampfszene in bronze", 'Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran' 24 (NS), p. 1, taf. 1).
Bibliographic references: Dalton 1964a / The treasure of the Oxus with other examples of early oriental metal-work (pp. 47-49, pl. XXIV, cat. no. 193); Curtis 1989a / Ancient Persia (pp. 10-11, fig. 8); Sykes P M 1915 / A History of Persia (vol. I, p. 185); Calmeyer 1969a / Datiebare Bronzen aus Luristan und Kirmanshah (pp. 181-82); Rostovtzeff M 1922a / Iranians and Greeks in South Russia (p. 59, pl. 11a); Amiet 1967a (pp. 281-82); Maxwell-Hyslop R 1988a / A comment on the finds from Khinaman; Hiebert F & Lamberg-Karlovsky C C 1992a / Central Asia and the Indo-Iranian Borderlands (p. 5); Brentjes B 1991a / Ein tierkampampfszene in bronze (p. 1, pl. I); Collon 1995a / Ancient Near Eastern Art (p. 87, fig. 68: bottom); Simpson 2012a / Afghanistan. A Cultural History (p.23)
Location: On display (G52/dc1)
Exhibition history: Exhibited: 2018, 6 May- 30 June, National Museum, New Delhi, India and the World: A History in Nine Stories 2017-2018, 10 Nov 2017 - 18 Feb 2018, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS), Mumbai, India, India and the World: A History in Nine Stories 2007- BM, G52/IRAN/1 2006 13 Apr-Dec, BM, G2/77 1995-2005 17 Nov-5 Dec, BM, G52/IRAN/2/14 1994 16 Jun-23 Dec, BM, G49/IRAN 1975-ca 1990 Jul-Dec, BM, Iranian Room [IR] case 11/42. 1960s BM, Persian Landing [PL] at top of West Stairs, case 1 BM, Iranian Room [IR], case 2
Subjects
Acquisition name: Donated through: Art Fund (as NACF); Donated by: Henry Oppenheimer
Acquisition date: 1913
Department: Middle East
BM/Big number: 123268
Registration number: 1913,0314.1
Additional IDs: Treasure/PAS number: OT.193 (Not part of the Oxus Treasure)
Conservation: Treatment: 11 Apr 1994; Treatment: 02 Jun 2006

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