Framed Luristan Bronze Arrowhead

£ 85.00

A fine Luristan bronze arrowhead with a long, straight blade and short tang. The blade tapers very gradually, forming a long triangular shape, before narrowing steeply to a pointed tip. The blade features a pronounced central midrib and leads to a short stem used for fitting onto a wooden shaft. The arrowhead features a sea-green patination and is displayed within a custom frame.

Arrowhead measurements: L 10.2cm x W1.7cm

NB: The measurements below include frame.

Date: Circa 1st Millennium BC
Condition: Very good condition. The edges of the blade feature some wear consistent with age.

SOLD

SKU: KW-56 Category: Tag:

Luristan bronze comes from the Lorestan Province, renowned in antiquity for its sophisticated metal-working. Weapons, tools, amulets, jewellery and finials comprise the majority of bronze output from the region and most have been recovered in funerary contexts, suggesting they had a ceremonial function. 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 decorations; they ranged from mammals such as ibexes and large bird to zoomorphic creatures including griffins. A prime and popular example is the Master of Animals which usually depicts a man or women holding animals or just the animals themselves facing each other on finials or standards. This imagery can be seen across the Mesopotamian civilisations.

To find out more about metalwork in Luristan please see our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.

Weight 374.3 g
Dimensions L 15.3 x W 3.2 x H 20.4 cm
Culture

Region

Metal

Reference: For a similar item,The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 61.100.67

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