12th-8th century BC. A bronze axehead with elliptical ribbed socket and short curved butt, blade with swept lower edge; engraved decoration to both faces including a frieze of graduated dragon-heads; panels of reserved pounced zigzags and eye motifs; mounted on a custom-made stand.Apollo magazine, May 2019. 797 grams total, 19cm including stand (7 1/2"). Ex N.M., former Israeli Ambassador to Austria (1998-2000); acquired from Mr R.D. of Vienna in 1998; acquired by Mr R.D. in the 1970s from the descendants of Franz Hancar (1893-1968), a famous scholar and expert in ancient Caucasian cultures; he is believed to have received the axehead circa 1930 from Franz Heger (1853-1931), an Austrian traveller and explorer who bought it as part of a collection during his travels in the Caucasus in 1890; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10341-168741. [A video of this lot is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.]