finial

Cf/excavation: Vanden Berghe 1973a fig 11:50 2 short horned and beard- semi natural not much resemblance H: 15 cm, W: 10 found with short squat base Bard-i-Bal tomb 17, fig 20:19 tomb 68 Bard-i-Bal same as above H: 10.7 on disintegrated base;
— 1972b fig 36:19, 37:D same as above two. Iron 2 1000-800;
Cf/collection: Mellink 1964 pl. III fig 1 (only 2 animals); Potratz 1955 pl. 11:3 no tails?
Potratz 1968 Sarre: taf XXVII: 162.

Function: The three ibexes (mountain goats) stand on their hind legs with front paws forming a circle. It was probably used with a bronze base mounted on a pole and could be the symbol of a clan or religious leader. The base and branch shown here were not found with the finial.
Acquisition: Gift from HRH Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf in 1936.
Why this is a masterpiece
The object is unique since it was made in the lost wax process. At the same time it is well within the iconography of elegant animal motifs known from this culture. There is no finer ibex finial known anywhere.
History of the Object
The Luristan bronze collection in Medelhavsmuseet is among the largest and most varied of Luristan collections outside Iran since most were acquired early in the 1930s. (Virtual Collection of Masterpieces, http://masterpieces.asemus.museum/Default.aspx)