Luristan Division

In the early first millennium B.C., inhabitants of the mountainous region of western Iran known today as Luristan manufactured an astonishing variety of bronze objects, including weapons, standards, jewelry, horse ornaments, and vessels, most of which have been recovered from cemeteries. The nature of the society, economy, and language that produced these bronzes is not known with certainty but they may have been predominantly nomadic.

Typical Luristan-style objects belong to the (Iranian) Iron Age (c. 1250-650 B.C.). It is believed that the Luristan bronzes were crafted by the Medes, an Indo-European people who, in close association with the Persians, began to infiltrate into Persia at about this period. However, this has never been proved, and others believe that they are connected with the Kassite civilization, or the Cimmerians or the Hurrians.

Image Code L01

Catalogue No.: L01 Description: Luristan Bronze Whetstone Socket or Holder. Iran, Luristan, 1800 BC. Bronze socket, cast by the lost wax process and formed as the foreparts of a leaping mountain goat. This exquisite piece is a fine example of Luristan craftsmanship.  Size: 160x30mm.

Image Code L02

Catalogue No.: L02 Description: Luristan Bronze Horse Bit in Three Parts Iran, Luristan, 9th – 8th century BC. The most common of the Luristan bronzes are probably the horse trappings and harness ornaments. The cheek pieces are often very elaborate, sometimes in the shape of ordinary animals such as horses or goats but also in the form of imaginary beasts like winged human-faced bulls. Size: 190x110mm.

Image Code L03

Catalogue No.: L03 Description: Luristan Bronze “Master of the Animals” Cult Finial Bronze cast by the lost wax process and chased. In the form of a Janus-faced human bust in banded headdress, grasping the necks of confronted lions, which sprout birds’ heads below. Iran, Luristan, 1000 – 800 BC. This standard top would have been joined to a pole or other support. It is not certain how such a standard would have been used, but it may be significant that the very few examples of this type excavated have been found only in graves. The object depicts a scene of long-standing significance in ancient Near Eastern art, that of the "master of animals." Size: 200x75mm.

Image Code L04

Catalogue No.: L04 Description: Luristan Copper Bowl. c. 8th - 7th Century BC. Magnificent bowl fashioned from a single sheet of thin gauge copper with a well formed base, concave sides and a folded-over lip. A delicate and fine style bowl that has retained its shape and integrity despite burial. Sheet copper.  Luristan, Western Iran. Size: 144 mm (Dia), 90 mm (Ht).

Image Code L05

Catalogue No.: L05 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 127x60mm.

Image Code L06

Catalogue No.: L06 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 106mm dia.

Image Code L07

Catalogue No.: L07 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 129mm dia.

Image Code L08

Catalogue No.: L08 Description: Luristan Bronze Phiale, Iran, Luristan, early 1st millennium BC Size: 167mm dia.

Image Code L09

Catalogue No.: L09 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 187mm dia.

Image Code L10

Catalogue No.: L10 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 167mm dia.

Image Code L11

Catalogue No.: L11 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 137mm dia.

Image Code L12

Catalogue No.: L12 Description: Luristan Bronze Bowl, early 1st millennium BC Size: 116mm dia.

Image Code L13

Catalogue No.: L13 Description: Luristan Bronze Horse Trapping or Fitment. Early 1st millennium BC. Size: 38 x 35mm.

Image Code L14

Catalogue No.: L14 Description: Luristan Bronze Horse Fitting, c. 1100 BC, Western Iran. Size: 58 x 19mm.

Image Code L15

Catalogue No.: L15 Description: Luristan Bronze Horse Trapping or Fitment, c. 1100 BC, Western Iran. Size: 86 x 65mm.

Image Code L16

Catalogue No.: L16 Description: Near Eastern Bronze Surgical Tool in the form of a Probe / Scalpel, early 1st millennium BC Size: 98 x 1mm.

Image Code L17

Catalogue No.: L17 Description: Near Eastern Bronze Surgical Tool in the form of a Probe / Scalpel, early 1st millennium BC Size: 149 x 4mm.

Image Code L18

Catalogue No.: L18 Description: Near Eastern Bronze Surgical Tool in the form of a Probe / Scalpel, early 1st millennium BC. Size: 149 x 6mm.

Image Code L19

Catalogue No.: L19 Description: Near Eastern Bronze Surgical Tool in the form of a Probe / Scalpel, early 1st millennium BC. Size: 183 x 8mm.

Image Code L20

Catalogue No.: L20 Description: Near Eastern Bronze Surgical Tool in the form of a Probe / Scalpel, early 1st millennium BC. Size: 210 x 15mm.

Image Code L21

Catalogue No.: L21 Description: Near Eastern Large Hammered Bronze Roundel. Magnificent large disc or roundel in the form of hammered sheet-metal bronze with repousse and chased decoration, the face of humanoid form with large bulbous eyes and nose and flaring eyebrows / coif. The piece possesses an overall mottled black / green patina and is remarkable for its style and condition for type. Early 1st millennium BC. Size: 210mm dia.

Image Code L22

Catalogue No.: L22 Description: Luristan Hollow-cast Bronze Cow. North-east Iran. 2nd century BC – 2nd century AD. Size: 59mm.

Image Code L23

Catalogue No.: L23 Description: Luristan bronze horse trapping element, c. 800 BC. Size: 40 X 16mm.

Image Code L24

Catalogue No.: L24 Description: Luristan miniature votive axe, copper, 800 BC. Size: 45 X 10mm.

Image Code L25

Catalogue No.: L25 Description: Luristan Bronze Kohl pot finial in the form of a bird, c. 800 BC. Size: 50 X 10mm.

Image Code L26

Catalogue No.: L26 Description: Luristan Bronze Kohl pot finial in the form of a feline, c. 800 BC. Size: 32 X 10mm.

Image Code L27

Catalogue No.: L27 Description: Luristan Bronze Horse Bit in Three Parts Iran, Luristan, 9th – 8th century BC. 2 pieces. The most common of the Luristan bronzes are probably the horse trappings and harness ornaments. The cheek pieces are often very elaborate, sometimes in the shape of ordinary animals such as horses or goats but also in the form of imaginary beasts like winged human-faced bulls. Size: Each 180x95mm.

Image Code G125

Catalogue No.: G125 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c. 8th Century BC. Large and heavy bell of classic shape with a raised band on the base as well as four raised vertical ornaments and a heavy cast suspension loop to the top. Ancient Iran, 180mm. Size: 179X126mm.

Image Code G126

Catalogue No.: G126 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c 8th Century BC. Small animal bell with moulded and incised decoration, complete and in tact with internal suspension loop and lead clapper. Ancient Iran, 54mm. Size: 50X40mm.

Image Code G127

Catalogue No.: G127 Description: Luristan Cymbals. Size: 58X42mm.

Image Code G129

Catalogue No.: G129 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c. 8th Century BC. With band of reeded decoration, suspension loop and remains of an iron clapper to the open top. Ancient Iran, 86mm. Size: 83X63mm.

Image Code G130

Catalogue No.: G130 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c. 8th Century BC. Stylish bell with widely flaring base with an open top and animal head terminals to the suspension loop at the top. Ancient Iran, 96mm. Size: 93X63mm.

Image Code G131

Catalogue No.: G131 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c. 8th Century BC. With granulated decoration, suspension loop at top and remains of an iron clapper. Ancient Iran, 108mm. Size: 107X65mm.

Image Code G132

Catalogue No.: G132 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell. Luristan Culture, c. 8th Century BC. Heavy bell with remnant embossed ornamentation, square top and remains of an iron clapper. Ancient Iran, 102mm. Size: 99X64mm.

Image Code G134

Catalogue No.: G134 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell/Rattle. Luristan Culture c 8th Century BC. Of enclosed conical form with incised decorated slit at the base, intact spherical clanger and remnant iron adhesion to the loop. Ancient Iran, 59mm. Size: 55 X 36mm.

Image Code G135

Catalogue No.: G135 Description: Ancient Bronze Bell/Rattle. Luristan Culture c. 8th Century BC. Of enclosed heavy spherical form with relief moulded decoration in the form of a pomegranate, with a wide formed slit to the base, in tact clanger ball and a well-formed suspension loop to the top. Ancient Iran, 64mm. Size: 62X52mm.

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