RARE CELTIC IRON BENT SWORD (FUNERARY RITUAL)

Ca. 400 BC. An iron sword with a long, double-edged blade tapering to a narrow point and strengthened by a pronounced median ridge, with a slender, narrow tang. The blade was deliberately bent back upon itself, possibly as part of a ritual practice. For similar see: Journal of Celtic Studies in Eastern Europe and Asia Minor, p. 1 - 4; Atanassov 1992 = ________ _., _________ __ III? II _. __. _._. __ ___________ __ _. _______, ________ ? ____, VII, 1992, _. 5-44 Size: 260mm x 95mm; Weight: 735g Provenance: Private London collection; formerly in Austrian private collection 1980s-early 1990s This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.