A fine Luristan spearhead with a leaf-shaped blade, a raised midrib and a 'rat-tail' tang which curves and flares at the end of the piece and would have been inserted into a wooden shaft. The blade is seated on a tubular section which develops into the tang past an encircling protrusion. There are some earthy encrustations and patination to the surface. Luristan bronze comes from the Lorestan Province, renowned in Antiquity for its sophisticated metal-working techniques. Early models of spearheads were designed in a flat dagger-like blades with a thin tang which would be used to attach the metal head to a wooden shaft and be tied to the body. Later designs, such as this one, would evolve to provide side support which would allow a more secure attachment to the weapon. Measurements: L 45.3cm x W 3.7cm Provenance: Ex London Collection, formed between 1990-present.