2002.334: Finial

Identification and Creation

Object Number

2002.334

Title

Finial

Other Titles

Former Title: Luristan Finial

Classification

Sculpture

Work Type

sculpture

Date

10th-7th century BCE

Places

Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Asia, Luristan (Iran)

Period

Iron Age

Culture

Iranian

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/117374

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Copper alloy

Technique

Cast, lost-wax process

Dimensions

h. 6.3 x w. 8.9 x th. 0.8 cm (2 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 5/16 in.)

Technical Details

Technical Observations: The patina is green with areas of red and brown. The object is fragmentary. There are brittle fractures, which appear old, at the points of loss. The remains of a central pin appear to be corroded in place.

The fluid, soft nature of the shapes probably indicates direct working of the wax model used for casting. There are no cold work details visible.


Henry Lie (submitted 2011)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Carol Hebb and Alan Feldbaum

Accession Year

2002

Object Number

2002.334

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Contact

am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Permissions

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Descriptions

Description

This fragmentary finial has openwork decoration that is repeated as a mirror image on each side of the central pin. Each side consists of one double-coiled spiral reaching horizontally from the area just under the pinhead. Lower down the shaft a branch arches and curves out; the lower edge is a raised band, and the top has four small spikes (two are missing from the better-preserved side). Below this element, only one side is preserved, consisting of a triple-coil spiral resting between the branch and the neck of an animal that juts out horizontally with the head down. The head, similar to the dragons on the more traditional finial type, has high pointed ears and a comb with three prongs on top of its head. It has large eyes consisting of a flattened circle placed on a larger circle. The snout is long, turning up at the end, and the lower jaw is slightly open. It has a raised band like a collar around its neck; a triple-spiral connects the lower jaw to the pin shaft. The rest of the finial is missing.

Subjects and Contexts

• Ancient Bronzes

Verification Level