Harvard Art Museums

"Master of Animals" Finial and Stand

Date: 8th century BCE
Medium: Bronze
Culture: Iranian
Department: Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics
Institution: Harvard Art Museums

This bronze "Master of Animals" finial is mounted on a bottle-shaped support and held in place by a metal rod attached to the top of the support. A poppy-headed dress pin was inserted from above, further stabilizing the mount. The Master of Animals has bovine (or goat?) ears and a second face at the waist area. Rooster heads protrude from the flanks of the stylized lions. Depicting a demonic figure grappling with two felines, this finial is typical of the bronze utensils and ornaments of Iron Age Luristan (west Iran), which are adorned with stylized representations of animals and monsters.

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