A Luristan bronze adze-axehead featuring a cylindrical shaft hole, a flattened top with a vertical blade with sides that broaden out towards the convex cutting edge and a horizontal blade to the back. Ring at the base of the shaft socket. Inclined convex blade indicates military use. The adze axe was a fundamental axe of many Bronze Age ancient cultures the world over. Its form was one that lends itself to dual purposes - for war and peace. As a tool, it functions to shape wood in fabricating a variety of objects or even wooden beams for construction. As a weapon, its heavy mass and compact form made it a very deadly striking and chopping weapon, even able to defeat light armour. Beautiful light and dark green patina, no damage.
Luristan bronzes represent one of the most distinctive metalworking traditions of the ancient Near East. The Lorestan Province of western Iran was renowned for sophisticated lost-wax casting and alloy control. The semi-nomadic peoples of the Zagros Mountains produced weapons of remarkable quality combining functional utility with artistic expression.
