Description:

Central Asia, India, Gangetic Basin, Copper Hoard Culture, ca. 1000 BCE. A heavy copper harpoon terminating in a rounded point with 3 tiers of pointed teeth extending from the thick, crested mid-rib. The body is slightly curved with a pair of suspension loops for attaching to a shaft. Copper artifacts like this harpoon, axes, and adze heads, all with elegant proportions and nice craftsmanship, are all we know of this culture. Some scholars have suggested that the copper and sometimes bronze objects associated with it are evidence of a trade route and culture influence from the Ancient Near East, particularly Luristan. These harpoons were likely made for hunting, but a large number of them have also been excavated from temples, such as those found at the Temple of Somesvar Mahadeva in 1891. They may therefore have had a votive function as well as a utilitarian one. Size: 10.2" L x 2.3" W (25.9 cm x 5.8 cm)

Provenance: private Everett, Massachusetts, USA collection, purchased from Timeline Auctions, London, UK, May 31, 2019

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#183046

  • Condition: Tip is blunted. Surface wear with nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with rich, green patina.

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January 5, 2024 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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