Spearhead; Luristan Culture, Iran, early first millennium B.C.

Spearhead; Luristan Culture, Iran, early first millennium B.C.
Bronze.
Provenance: G. Elias Collection.
Measurements: 31 x 4 cm; 7 x 6.2 x 6.2 cm (base).
A bronze spearhead with a triangular blade attached to the base by three rivets. The Luristan culture flourished between the 11th and 8th centuries BCE, when it was wiped out by conflicts in the region during the 8th century BCE. They were a nomadic people originating from southern Russia, settled in the Iranian steppe and composed of various independent groups, lacking a national identity but sharing common cultural characteristics. They developed a rich metalworking culture, working primarily with bronze. They used it to create all kinds of functional pieces, as well as votive offerings and personal adornments. Their art was figurative, though cryptic and deeply symbolic, prioritizing expressiveness over naturalism. In the pieces from Luristan, a distinct axis of symmetry is always evident, as well as an ambiguity of forms and motifs that was a constant feature of this culture’s art, particularly in the figures of deities.