**Originally Listed At $1400**

Central Asia, Persia / Northern India, Mughal or Indo-Persian culture, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A fine collection of 7 different styles of steel and iron lance and spear heads, their socketed ends would have been mounted on a wood poles for use as processional or combat weapons - usually by mounted warriors. The blades displayed here come in a variety of shapes, some flattened with broad shoulders, and others with more of a pyramidal shape. These range in age as well, for example, the spear with the rippled surface is certainly older than the tall slender one next to it - an interesting assortment to display! Size: 10.25" L x 1" W (26 cm x 2.5 cm); 12" H (30.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Spears and lances were used for sporting and hunting as well as militaristic endeavors. Riders practiced hitting targets on horseback often at a full out gallop and throwing blunted weapons known as jarids (djerid) at opponents heads. According to the 1849 travel account "Narrative of the United States' Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea" by William F. Lynch: "A single horseman would leave his ranks, cross the intervening space, and ride leisurely along in front of the opposite line, when, selecting his opponent, he quickly threw his djerid, or short, blunted, wooden spear, directly at him. The latter, generally dodging the weapon, immediately started in hot pursuit of his antagonist, who, now unarmed, spurred his horse towards his friends, and, to avoid the threatened blow, threw himself nearly from the stead, hanging by one leg …. If the assailed were struck with the first cast, one of his party pursued the assailant; and if successful in striking him, it became his turn to flee from an adversary."

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Connecticut, USA estate

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#175490

Tears and stable fissures on sockets of several. Nicks and chips to blades, but all are intact without restoration. Mineral encrustations inside sockets and areas of patina and toning throughout.