Bronze Age Attachment of a Sceptre “Kommandostab”

Culture: Central Europe

Period: around 1200 B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 29.3 cm long

Price: 6 000 Euro

Ref: 5222

Provenance: Austrian private collection A., acquired prior to 2000. Last in the English art market.

Condition: In the lower ring an ancient casting defect, otherwise only minor wear.

Description: Solid bronze head of a standard or a sceptre, which is called a “Kommandostab” in the German literature. The attachment was probably affixed on a long wood staff and presented by a high dignitary or leader during festive occasions. The form of these standards is unique and with its long side arms a reminiscence of stylized, figurative depictions. The body is decorated with two tapering ring profiles at the bottom. On the intersection with the long, slightly slopping arms a long tenon is worked out on both sides. On the neck another ring profiling, followed by a disk-shaped head. On the arms abundant incised decoration. The body is vertically pierced, to affix the attachment on the handle.