Bronze is made by mixing copper, tin and other metals. In this period, bronze was more durable than other available materials, and so its production revolutionised everyday objects ranging from vessels to agricultural tools to weapons. The Near East and Western Asia were the first regions to start using bronze which aided the rise of the Mesopotamian civilisation of Sumer. Luristan bronze comes from the province of Lorestan, where a range of nomadic tribes lived. Bronze vessels, such as this fine bowl, would have been used in everyday life but also buried together with the deceased.
To discover more on the Luristan culture, please see our relevant blog post: The Luristan Empire: Beauty of Bronze.