Framed Luristan Bronze Lanceolate Arrowhead

£ 75.00

A Luristan bronze arrowhead with a leaf-shaped blade and a long tang for fitting into the wooden shaft. The deltoid lanceolate structure of the blade places its widest section near the stem with gently sloping shoulders. A faint midrib features down the centre of the blade. The arrowhead features green patination across the surface and is fitted within a custom frame. The blade is slightly irregular in shape.

Arrowhead measurements: L 9.6cm x W1.7cm

NB: Measurements below include frame.

Date: Circa 1st Millennium BC
Condition: Good condition. A chip to the edge of the blade and some irregularities in shape due to age. Earthy encrustations across the surface.

In stock

SKU: KW-54 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 353.6 g
Dimensions L 15.3 x W 3.4 x H 20.4 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Reference: For a similar item,The Metropolitan Museum of Art, item 1976.233.26

You may also like…