Small pairs of animals are the most distinctive objects of all cast bronze works reported from Luristan. Finials were made to be seen either from the back or front and were designed to be placed on the top of poles or vertical supports. The first types of ‘animal finials’ consist of a confronting pair of animals. Large horned ibexes and felines were most commonly used, attached to either a tube shape or open rings. Over time, the animals were produced in a more naturalistic manner and types were widened to include animals with human features, demons.
To discover more about the Luristan Empire, please visit our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.
