116

116: A Fine Persian Bronze Whetstone Handle

Currency:USD Category:Antiquities Start Price:900.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,000.00 USD
116: A Fine Persian Bronze Whetstone Handle
Persia, ca. 500 -330 BC Hollow cylinder terminating in a stylized feline face, with ears flat against each side, straight incised lines along top of head, a raised brow leading down the center of the face to the nose, and two large, round eyes. Loop for suspension or attachment at bottom of piece.

The earliest zoomortphic protome whetstone handles are dated to the 11th century AD. Whetstone handles vary widely in form and style, ranging from naturalistic depictions to stylized renderings of many different animals. Examples with the head on the same plane as the stone such as these are referred to as 'Assyrian' type, and date to the 9th and 8th century. They could be from Luristan or other area of Iran or Mesopotamia.Reference: Bronze and Iron, Ancient Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Oscar White Muscarella, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1988) pg. 182For similar examples, see:
Art of Ancient Iran, Copper and Bronze, Houshang Mahboubian, Philip Wilson Publishers LTD (1997) fig. 307 Ancient Bronzes Ceramics and Seals ed. Glenn Markoe, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (1981) fig. 122

Dimensions: length 2.75" (7 centimeters)

Provenance: Private mid-west collection, acquired prior to 1952.