RARE ANCIENT LURISTAN BRONZE DISK-HEADED PIN WITH CHASED FRUIT AND FLORAL DESIGNS *LUR371

Product Description

SEE MORE ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN LURISTAN ARTIFACTS

This MUSEUM-CLASS ancient Luristan bronze disk-headed pin is one of those rare objects that exemplifies the amazing workmanship and achievements of the ancient Luristan metalsmiths.  These pins were first cast with a flat portion integral to a pin body.  The flat portion was then expertly hammered to a thin round sheet that was still connected to the pin.  The sheet was then further worked by chasing and repoussé techniques (hammering with special tools from both, the front and back side of the sheet to form the exquisite designs).  The elaborate floral and fruit design of this specimen demonstrates this could only have been made by THE MOST skilled ancient artisan. 

The high level of artistic skill required, and the extraordinary time it would have taken to make such an object of art and luxury would have made it incredibly expensive in ancient times.  Only someone of immense wealth or royal lineage, could have afforded to wear such a pin.  The ultra-costly price tag in the ancient world, plus the fact that rarely these pins would survive intact due to the thinness of the metal, made ultra-rare in the ancient world.  This explains why they are virtually impossible to find on the market today.  An entire book has been dedicated to just these rare works of ancient art, "Luristan Bronze Disc-Headed Pins : A Symbol of Ancient Iran's Art" by Souri Ayazi, written in 2008.

This superb disk-headed hammered pin dates to the Iron Age II - III period, 1000 B.C. - 650 B.C..  It features intricate designs over the entire round pin head.  The entire pin is in the finest preservation and is complete the full long pin.  The surface is entirely covered with light green malachite mineral encrustations, all signs of age and authenticity.  With 35 years experience handling many of the finest Ancient Near Eastern antiquities, we can assure you objects like these are VERY RARE and few reside in private collections. 

This artifact has  been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab, being treated with a special sealer developed and formulated by us specifically for ancient metal preservation.  The patina shows beautiful traits only found in authentic ancient weapons.  It is a patina like this that the finest ancient bronzes are prized for and it is a patina like this that brings a premium in price and value of the specimen.  There is no active bronze disease.  Bronze disease is a powder that will literally eat away an artifact over time and destroy it.

WARNING:  There is a STAGGERING number of fake bronze weapons on the market.  Many being sold as "authentic" were never meant to deceive and were made as far back as 100 years ago as exact reproductions for museums to sell in their gift shops.  Other examples are modern fabrications specifically intended to fool unwitting buyers.  As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce, the techniques to fake these objects have become highly advanced.  We have personally handled numerous well-done fakes with extremely convincing patinas.  The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals.  It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas.  All purchases should include a written guarantee of authenticity from the seller, with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee, such as we provide.