BRONZE AGE DECORATED MACE HEAD ON STAND

C. 2000-700BC, Luristan culture. A Luristan cast bronze mace head with a tubular shape and a protruding spheroid midsection. The upper portion of mace head, just anterior to the spheroid section is decorated with two incised horizontal lines. The midsection comprises a spheroid shape made from a series of vertically orientated, raised ridges which taper lower down to reunite with the weapon's tubular base. The base itself is ornamented with a single raised band and a gently flaring rim. Bronze weaponry production flourished from the 2nd millennium BC to about 700BC when it was gradually replaced by iron. Swords, maceheads spears and arrows were exchanged via trade and war and are discovered in both civic and ritual context. A macehead such as this one would have been an important symbol of rank, and have served a purpose in warfare, but also in religious contexts as maceheads were common votive offerings in shrines. Superb condition, mounted on custom made stand.Size: L:170mm / W:40mm ; 250g; Provenance: From an old British collection, acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s.