A Fine Ancient Near East Caucasian Bronze Age Koban Culture Finely Decorated Bronze Shaft-Hole Axe Head

Period: 900 BC - 800 BC

Origin: Caucasian, Caucasus

Medium: Bronze

Dimension: 5.5 x 18 x 3 cm (2¹/₈ x 7¹/₈ x 1¹/₈ inches)

Provenance: Ex Private London collection
Acquired Christies London 5th October 2000, lot 188

Art Loss Register Certificate available

cf: A plainer example in the collections of the British Museum London BM1913.1215.9

Literature: The Koban culture 1100 to 400 BC is a late Bronze Age and Iron Age culture of the northern and central Caucasus. It is named after the village of Koban where in 1869 many battle axes, daggers and other items were discovered in a ‘Kurgan’ or burial mound. These axe heads were often found in grave sites as they were emblems of power and probably had a cult significance. Used in personal combat they were decorated to intimidate an enemy. Three closely hatched ribs strengthen and adorn the outer sides of the shaft-hole and the blade surface is carefully chiselled with fine abstract lines; it is characteristic of the best of these stylised axe heads.