Details

LOT 0277

Large Luristan Bronze Finial with Master of Animals

8TH-7TH CENTURY B.C.

16 7/8 in. (930 grams total, 43 cm including stand).

Bifacial Master of Animals motif atop a collared tubular stem with flared foot; comprising two addorsed rams with their forelegs tied together; two addorsed birds standing on the rams' backs looking towards two birds' heads facing downwards and joined to slender crescentic boars with ridged backs and gaping mouths, each in the grip of the Master standing crowned between them; the Master with tubular body, animal-like ears, prominent nose above a small mouth and wearing collars, neck rings and tiered headdress; waisted socket below; mounted on a display stand.

Provenance

Acquired in Iran, 1967.
Private collection, UK.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12824-241323.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Literature

Cf. Godard, F., The Art of Iran, London, 1965, fig.19, for similar; Chausidis, N., Luristan Standards, iconography semiotics and purpose, Skopje, 2022, p.10, for similar and figs. nos.B11 fig.4, C16 nos.4-5, C17-C20, C32.

Footnotes

According to current knowledge, one type of Luristan standards consisted of two symmetrical animal figures standing upright on their hind legs and facing each other with an anthropomorphic character at the centre. Like the "zoomorphic standards", the "zoomorphic standards with a human head" and the "idols", this type has two faces, which means that it was conceived to be viewed from all sides.