Horse bit from Luristan
€1,420
available
Object number
AR3408
| Object: |
Luristan horse bit
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| Material: |
Bronze.
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| Period: |
9th to 8th century BC. Iron Age II to III of Luristan. |
| Description: |
The bronze horse bit is made of a straight polygonal profile rod with curled ends. Sliding cheek pieces are mounted on the bit. They have the shape of two open work triangles joined at a corner. The joint is formed like a circular loop attaching the pieces to the rod. The inner side of each cheek piece has six spikes.
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| Background: |
The nomadic people of Luristan were masterly horse breeders. No wonder that many beautiful horse harnesses were casted when bronze artworking was thriving in Western Iran. This bit was part of such a horse harness. The rein was attached to the curled ends and the cheek pieces made a fine decoration when the horse was biting the rod. The early type of horse bit offered here sheds light on the very beginnings of horse breeding and the elaborate horse harnesses of Luristan.
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| Dimensions: |
17.3cm width. Each cheek piece measures 10.5cm x 4.0cm.
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| Condition: |
Perfect condition. With a beautiful green to blueish patina.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the German art market in 2022. Previously in the German collection of H. W. Acquired by him in the 1980ies.
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| References: |
Cf. G. Zahlhaas, Luristan - Antike Bronzen aus dem Iran, p. 53f, no. 99. For a slightly later specimen cf. E. Peltenburg, Western Asiatic Antiquities, p. 101, no. 72. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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