In Mesopotamia, simple garment pins appear to be some of the earliest artefacts made from metal, surpassing the tools and weapons of the area. They are superior both in terms of quantity, and in the variety of form and decoration, with basic shapes persisting for long amounts of time. Designs fluctuated according to popularity; Luristan floral pins appeared in the late 10th Century BC but by the 8th century were outnumbered by more geometric forms of pin head. The pin-makers of Western Mesopotamia took their inspiration from the local flora and fauna, though it is difficult to determine precisely which fruits, flowers, or animals were used in the decoration. However Luristan blacksmiths did not create an individual range of motifs for their floral pins and they were instead content to follow patterns which vary only slightly between regions. That said, the most common sources of artistic inspiration in both Greece and the Middle East seem to have been the poppy and pomegranate.
To discover more about the Luristan Empire, please visit our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.
