Luristan bronze standard with master of animals
€1,875
available
Object number
AR3505
| Object: |
Luristan bronze standard with master of animals
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| Material: |
Bronze.
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| Period: |
8th century BC to 7th century BC. Iron Age III of Luristan. |
| Description: |
A Luristan standard finial in the shape of a heavily decorated tube. The decorative elements run in a single plane and consist of a mirror-symmetrical pair of stylized, upright felines, possibly panthers. The animals are being dominated by a Janus-faced hero or god standing in the center. Their gaping mouths snap at his head. This type of decoration is referred to as "master of animals".
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| Background: |
The standards are curious artefacts from the Luristan culture. They have no real parallels outside of this region of present-day northern Iran. In German-language literature they are referred to as standards, votive statuettes or lucky charms. The English-language literature often uses the word finial, which does not imply any function. And indeed, what they were really used for is still a mystery. Roger Moorey (see literature references) speculates that they could be household gods, as they are mentioned several times in the Old Testament as so-called teraphim (e.g. Gen 31:19 ELB, 1 Sam 19:13 ELB and Hos 3:4 ELB ). These gods were used for divination and to protect households and businesses. They were placed in sacred niches or hidden from view. |
| Dimensions: |
12.4cm high. 6.2cm wide. With modern stand 18.0cm high.
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| Condition: |
Excellent condition, preserved in every detail, without chips, with a fine, dark green patina. The piece itself is the top part of a standard, which was once pinned to a stand. Modernly mounted with a metal pin on an acrylic glass block. A sticker with the inscription "29" is affixed to the acrylic glass base.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us from the German art market in 2023. Previously in the German private collection of O. Schwarzwaelder. Acquired into this collection in 1980 from the German art market.
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| References: |
An insightful treatise on Luristan standards see P. R. S. Moorey, Ancient Bronzes from Luristan, pp. 29ff. And a specimen very similar to the one offered here is the one labled A in Plate X. Several examples for Luristanian standards are found in the more recent book from G. Zahlhaas, Luristan - Antike Bronzen aus dem Iran (Munich, 2002). Including the comparative piece Cat. no. 231 on p. 110, which is very similar to the one offered here. Cf. W. Meier-Arendt, Archäologische Reihe 4, Bronze und Keramik aus Luristan, p. 48, no. 46, and p. 51, no. 49. Cf. M. J. Sanchez Beltran, Catalogo de los bronces de Luristan en el museo arqueologico nacional, Plate VII, no. 23. |
| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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