Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900 BC to 700 BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 3.625" (9.2cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Luristan Medium: Bronze Luristan (or  More »

Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900 BC to 700 BC Dimensions: 2.75" (7.0cm) high x 3.625" (9.2cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Luristan Medium: Bronze Luristan (or Lorestan) literally means “Land of the Lurs”, and was situated in a wide sweep of the Zagros mountains in what is now western Iran. The sociopolitics of this area are complex, with repeated waves and invasions of Medes, Cimmerians and Persians, amongst others, but the culture thus created is remarkable for its superb control of metalworking. There are many styles, but the best-known pieces of bronze from this area are anthropomorphic and zoomorphic pieces reflecting religious and secular tastes, as well as weaponry and utilitarian items that were buried with the deceased in tombs across the Zagros area. It was nonetheless viewed as a precious resource, and was used alongside iron once this metal became available, for while its qualities of hardness and durability were recognized, it merely made bronze a more socially exclusive material. The hallmark of Luristan wares is the tendency to elongate the necks, tails and bodies of the animals to produce graceful curves and arches. The re-discovery of the splendor of Luristan metalwork began in the 1930s and made considerable progress after World War II. The absence of relevant written records makes their complex imagery difficult to interpret in specific religious terms but it is likely that they represent local deities of some kind. It has been suggested that such elaborate bronze items must have been the preserve of the tribal leaders, a warrior class with the means to equip themselves and their households for war. Two curly-horned mountain sheep are harried by a hunting dog across the tops of two incised harness hoops. In the ancient cultures of Persia, hunting was the favored pastime of the nobility, a sport that is reflected even in the trappings of their horses. The lord who was buried with this vibrant sculpture wished to be reminded for all eternity of the pleasures of this world, of the excitement of the hunt. We today can experience the same sensations of delight. - (FZ.190)   « Less

Bronze Bowl - AMD.228 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 1000 AD to 1400 AD Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide Collection: Islamic Art Medium: Bronze Condition:  More »

Bronze Bowl - AMD.228 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 1000 AD to 1400 AD Dimensions: 2" (5.1cm) high x 4" (10.2cm) wide Collection: Islamic Art Medium: Bronze Condition: Extra Fine   « Less

After the death of Alexander the Great, his expansive empire was divided among three of his most loyal generals, with Seleucis assuming control of the eastern portion. The  More »

After the death of Alexander the Great, his expansive empire was divided among three of his most loyal generals, with Seleucis assuming control of the eastern portion. The Seleucid Dynasty was thereby established, following in the footsteps of the Persian, Assyrian, and Babylonian Empires, with its capitals at Antioch (in modern Syria) and Seleucia (in modern Iraq). However, as history has shown, maintaining calm and order over such a large territory, encompassing so many different cultures, proved difficult if not impossible. In 245 B.C., the Parthians revolted against the Seleucids under the leadership of Satrap Andragoras, igniting a civil war that would lead to further autonomy, despite the continued recognition of the Greek kings as their superiors. Although the Parthians had been mentioned in Assyrian text as early as the 7th Century B.C., it was not until the rise of Mithradates I that the yoke of Seleucid control was tossed aside and Parthia reached the heights of its glory. Mithradates the Great quickly conquered the lands Parthian Green-Glazed Terracotta Vase - X.0128 Origin:Central Asia Circa:100ADto300ADDimensions:9.75"(24.8cm)high Collection:er Eastern Style: Parthian Medium: Terracotta   « Less

In 1947, a young shepherd boy stumbled upon a treasure trove of gold, silver and ivory objects located on the side of a mountain high above the small, isolated village of  More »

In 1947, a young shepherd boy stumbled upon a treasure trove of gold, silver and ivory objects located on the side of a mountain high above the small, isolated village of Ziwiye. Excavations revealed that the treasure was located in the wall of an ancient ent with contemporary structures built by the Elamites and the Assyrians. Much of the art found during subsequent excavations is stylistically and subjectively similar to Assyrian art of the 8th and 7th centuries, with further links to the Urartians and Scythians. Stylistic trends in ceramics suggest that the pots have much in common with others recovered from along the banks of the Tigris in the ancient Assyrian city of Ashur,suggestingthatitmayhavebeenthe Assyrianswhobuiltthecitadelaboveagainstnomdicinvaderssuch-X.0199(LSO)Origin:Central Asia Circa:800BCto700BCDimensions:11" (27.9cm) high Collection: Near Easternyle: Ziwiye Medium: Glazed Terracotta   « Less

After the death of Alexander the Great, his expansive empire was divided among three of his most loyal generals, with Seleucis assuming control of the eastern portion. The  More »

After the death of Alexander the Great, his expansive empire was divided among three of his most loyal generals, with Seleucis assuming control of the eastern portion. The Seleucid Dynasty was thereby established, following in the footsteps of the Persian, Assyrian, and Babylonian Empires, with its capitals at Antioch (in modern Syria) and Seleucia (in modern Iraq). However, as history has shown, maintaining calm and order over such a large territory, encompassing so many different cultures, proved difficult if not impossible. In 245 B.C., the Parthians revolted against the Seleucids under the leadership of Satrap Andragoras, igniting a civil war that would lead to further autonomy, despite the continued recognition of the Greek kings as their superiors. Although the Parthians had been mentioned in Assyrian text as early as the 7th Century B.C.,itwasnotuntiltheriseof Mithradates Ithatthewas Terracotta Amphorawith Two Handles - X.0474Origin: Central Asia Circa: 100 AD to 300 ADDimensions:4.50" (36.8cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Style: Parthian Medium: Glazed Terracotta   « Less

The Amlash culture is known almost exclusively through the archaeological material that has emerged in recent decades. We know little about the people themselves, other than  More »

The Amlash culture is known almost exclusively through the archaeological material that has emerged in recent decades. We know little about the people themselves, other than the fact that they were highly skilled artists and artisans. Otherwise, it appears that this ancient culture once inhabited the mountainous regions bordering the Caspian Sea in the north of modern day Iran. According to the archaeological record, their culture appeared to reach its plateau during the 9th and 8th Centuries B.C. Although we are uncertain whether the population was native to the land or migrated from border regions, the subject matter of their art and pottery, which characteristically include themes relating to nature, is clearly linked to the art of their contemporary neighbors including the cultures of Luristan and Elam.Amlash Terracotta Rhyton-X.0356 Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900 BC to 800Near Eastern Style:Amlash Medium:Terracotta Condition: Extra Fine   « Less

Horn Rhyton - PF.7024Origin: Central Asia Circa: 500 BC to 400BCDimensions:5.25" (13.3cm) high x7.50"(19.1cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Style:Achaemenid Medium: Horn

Horn Rhyton - PF.7024Origin: Central Asia Circa: 500 BC to 400BCDimensions:5.25" (13.3cm) high x7.50"(19.1cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Style:Achaemenid Medium: Horn   « Less

Pottery Vessel in the Shape of a Recumbent Bull - PF.7019Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900BCto700BCDimensions:7.25"(18.4cm)highx4.15"(10.5cm)widex9.75"(24.8cm)depth Collection:  More »

Pottery Vessel in the Shape of a Recumbent Bull - PF.7019Origin: Central Asia Circa: 900BCto700BCDimensions:7.25"(18.4cm)highx4.15"(10.5cm)widex9.75"(24.8cm)depth Collection: Zoomorphic Sculptures Style: Zoomorphic Medium: Pottery   « Less

This striking anthropomorphic vessel was made in the early days of the 1st millennium AD by a potter of the Kushan Empire. It is essentially a globular flask, with a rounded  More »

This striking anthropomorphic vessel was made in the early days of the 1st millennium AD by a potter of the Kushan Empire. It is essentially a globular flask, with a rounded body, a tapering central neck and a loop handle posteriorly. The flask is painted reddish-orange, and is decorated with a dark horizontal panel of geometrically reductivist faces in profile, demarcated by a line of waves inferiorly and a band of foliate design above. The neck of the vessel is similarly decorated, giving way to the jawline of the head which forms the very top of the pouring spout. The face is comparatively long, with oversized, rimmed, almond-shaped eyes, an angular nose and a nugatory mouth. It has a single lock of dark hair running from each ear and curling anteriorly. The handle – which is decorated in a similar manner–iscomparatively low,andreachesthenapeofthehead’sneck Black Painted Earthenware Jarwith Anthropomorphic Spout - LO.664 (LSO)Origin: Central Asia Circa: 200 AD to 400ADDimensions: 8.50" (21.6cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style: Kushan Medium: Terracotta   « Less

The figurine, depicting a truncated torso, the face with accentuated eyecontours,small lips and nose, the front outlined by a decorative band, holding the hair back.  More »

The figurine, depicting a truncated torso, the face with accentuated eyecontours,small lips and nose, the front outlined by a decorative band, holding the hair back. -LO.667) Alabaster Anthropomorphic Figurine - LO.667Origin: Central Asia Circa:3000BCto2000 BCDimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high x 3.50" (8.9cm) wide Collection: Nearastern Style: Elamite   « Less