LARGE LURISTAN HORSE BIT
WESTERN ASIA, 800 – 600 B.C.
£2,016
Classical Ancient Art // Form Through Time
Auction: Form Through Time - 21st March 2024 at 2pm
Description
cast bronze, consisting of a rigid mouthpiece and a pair of cheek pieces, each cast in the form of a mouflon and mythical creature joined into a single figure, the mouflon depicted with its head turned outwards towards the viewer at a right angle to the body, its elaborate horns curving round to point toward the upright ears, the body attached to the mythical creature and perforated at the centre through which the bit has been placed, the second is shown with the hind quarters of a beast with curling tail, the horned head with human facial features, similarly turned towards the viewer, cascading hair strands screwed into volutes, the neck adorned with multiple rings, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
18.3cm long
Provenance
The Paul Strickland collection of Lorestan art, acquired from the below 12th November 1982, accompanied by a copy of the original invoice
Mansour Gallery, 46 Davies Street, London, United Kingdom
Footnote
In this surreal depiction we see the melding of human and animal characteristics that was common in ancient Luristan art. The magnificence of the items associated with equestrianism, such as the present example, point to the nomadic lifestyle of the people who created them.