Description

This is a master of the animals bronze standard from Iron Age Luristan, dated about  1100 to 650 B.C. The central figure is a 2 headed janitorm divinity grasping the necks of 2 confronting cock’s heads, signifying mastery over animals. On the lower back of the avian monsters, 2 small cocks are emerging. Further down are the 2 haunches of the creatures symmetrically depicted. This rests on a bottle shaped socket  Luristan is a mountainous  area in western Persia and was  home to a nomadic people who excelled in producing numerous artistic bronzes. Much of their art is now in museums.They tended to portray monsters or standing animals, symmetrically opposed and highly stylized-as seen in this piece.Their stylistic rendering has been compared to the Scythians, a nomadic people of the Eurasian steppes. This unique intact bronze has been in my collection for years. It was purchased from Sotheby’s Antiquity sale,New York.