Luristan Bronze Master of Animals Standard Finial
Ancient Near East, northwestern Iran and Turkey, Luristan, ca. 1000 to 600 BCE. An intriguing cast-bronze standard finial in the form known as the "master of animals." The composition depicts an abstract anthropomorphic figure standing with broad hips and openwork legs while throttling a pair of stylized predators - perhaps griffins, roosters, or lionesses - by their necks. A petite avian-style head protrudes from beneath the neck of each larger zoomorphic head, and a second anthropomorphic face is shown along the chest of the larger figure. The pierced ears and goblet held atop the head of the primary figure perhaps held ornamentation at one time, and the entire upper half is secured within the opening of a slender, bell-shaped lower half. The upper half is covered in thick layers of green and brown patina with scattered areas of azurite patina, and the bottom half exhibits mottled layers of russet and green patina. A fascinating artifact from ancient Luristan! Size: 2.5" W x 13" H (6.4 cm x 33 cm); 14.75" H (37.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Many of these standards were removed from Luristan in the 1800s and early 1900s without proper archaeological excavation; only two have been scientifically excavated. As a result, their true function is unknown. Suggestions for their interpretation have ranged from the religious - depictions of deities, idols, talismans, etc. - to the utilitarian - parts of chariots or used in funerary rituals.
Cf. "Our Collective Past: A Selection of Objects from Antiquity." Fortuna Fine Arts, Inc., New York, 2006, p. 2, fig. 2.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#143204
Condition Report: Repair to upper half of top section beneath lowest face, with resurfacing and overpainting along break lines. Possible restoration to upper rim of lower section, but very well done if so. Minor abrasions and light encrustations to both halves, with small nicks to some finer details. Great patina throughout. Tang of top section is adhered within the upper opening of the bottom section and cannot be removed; piece as a whole can be removed from display stand.
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Ancient Near East, northwestern Iran and Turkey, Luristan, ca. 1000 to 600 BCE. An intriguing cast-bronze standard finial in the form known as the "master of animals." The composition depicts an abstract anthropomorphic figure standing with broad hips and openwork legs while throttling a pair of stylized predators - perhaps griffins, roosters, or lionesses - by their necks. A petite avian-style head protrudes from beneath the neck of each larger zoomorphic head, and a second anthropomorphic face is shown along the chest of the larger figure. The pierced ears and goblet held atop the head of the primary figure perhaps held ornamentation at one time, and the entire upper half is secured within the opening of a slender, bell-shaped lower half. The upper half is covered in thick layers of green and brown patina with scattered areas of azurite patina, and the bottom half exhibits mottled layers of russet and green patina. A fascinating artifact from ancient Luristan! Size: 2.5" W x 13" H (6.4 cm x 33 cm); 14.75" H (37.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Many of these standards were removed from Luristan in the 1800s and early 1900s without proper archaeological excavation; only two have been scientifically excavated. As a result, their true function is unknown. Suggestions for their interpretation have ranged from the religious - depictions of deities, idols, talismans, etc. - to the utilitarian - parts of chariots or used in funerary rituals.
Cf. "Our Collective Past: A Selection of Objects from Antiquity." Fortuna Fine Arts, Inc., New York, 2006, p. 2, fig. 2.
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#143204
Condition Report: Repair to upper half of top section beneath lowest face, with resurfacing and overpainting along break lines. Possible restoration to upper rim of lower section, but very well done if so. Minor abrasions and light encrustations to both halves, with small nicks to some finer details. Great patina throughout. Tang of top section is adhered within the upper opening of the bottom section and cannot be removed; piece as a whole can be removed from display stand.
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