Luristan Bronze Handle with Zoomorphic Relief Decoration

Culture: Iran/Luristan

Period: 8th century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 9.1 cm high

Price: 1 200 Euro

Ref: 6614

Provenance: French private collection of Nicole and Jean-Michel Thierry, acquired in June 1955 from Koutoulakis in Paris. With a copy of the collection note. In family ownership since then.

Condition: Intact

Description: A particularly finely crafted, tubular bronze handle decorated all around with stylised felines. Starting from the centre, three animals are oriented upward and three downward toward the rim. Their legs are bent in a climbing position, with the paws of two big cats touching each other, while the third crouches behind the pair. The handle, which is perforated throughout, has a horizontally projecting rim at the top and bottom. There are horizontal ribs between the animal reliefs and the rim. This finely crafted bronze object served as the handle of a knife or one of the well-known Luristan standards. Mounted on a plexiglass base.