Luristan objects are for the majority bronze cast items decorated with bronze sculptures and there have been many discovered in the Lorestān Province. This includes many weapons, tools and finials along with small amulets and fittings. The decorative technique is predominately openwork, with Scythian art influences. However, the identity of those who created these fine pieces are still unknown to this day. Animals were often featured as decoration, they ranged from mammals such as ibexes and large birds, to zoomorphic creatures including griffins. A prime and popular example is the ‘Master of Animals’, a supernatural protector of game, the ruler of the forest, and the guardian of the entire animal kingdom. He is depicted as a naked human figure standing between the heads, necks, and stylised bodies of zoomorphic creatures presented in profile. Likely to be a creation of the prehistoric Near East, the ‘Master of Animals’ remained popular in a number of variants for thousands of years. This imagery can be seen across many Mesopotamian civilisations.
The repoussé technique involves hammering the item from the reverse producing a raised design in low relief whilst chasing is creating the pattern by hammering into the item from the front. Many different metals can be used ranging from gold and silver to bronze and steel. During the Bronze Age in the Middle East, 3rd millennium BC, hammering materials was a common technique for decorating pieces.
To find out more about metalwork in Luristan and decorative techniques for metalworks, please see our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze and Decorative Metalwork Techniques.
