Luristan Standard Finial with Ibex and Serpent. 12th century B.C. A staff or a standard finial composed of a tapering tubular body, collared at both ends, incorporating an ibex modelled in the round with large horns, a serpent's head emerging between, its body wound around the shaft. Cf. Moorey, P.R.S., Ancient Bronzes From Luristan, London, 1974, pl.IV(C), for a comparable ibex figure; for a standard composed of two facing ibexes cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, p.203; Malekzadeh, M., Hasanpur, A., Hashemi, Z., 'Fouilles (2005-2006) a Sangtarashan, Luristan, Iran' in Iranica Antiqua, vol.LII, 2017, pp.85ff., pl.19, no.160. 1.03 kg, 19.7 cm (7 3/4 in.) Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate no.11205-186705. Finials were made to be seen from all sides and were designed to be placed on the top of poles or vertical supports, acting as standards or ceremonial staves. Standards, pseudo-standards or tubular idols were categorised by Godard, Amiet and Vanden-Berghe to the complex objects comprising an upper part forming a bottle-shaped support and a central fastening element often adorned by an animal motif. Large horned ibexes and felines were the most commonly used motifs. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website]

Fine condition.