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Ancient Near East, Northwestern Iran, Luristan culture, ca. 1000 to 600 BCE. A cast-bronze handle of conical form exhibiting a large ibex head with a massive set of curving horns. Stepping atop the ibex's neck is a slender creature, perhaps a feline, with gaping jaws revealing a tongue draped between the lower fangs. A petite bird stands atop the outer rim with wings folded against the back and head raised, perhaps acting as a thumbrest for the whetstone's owner. Inserted into the back of the bronze handle is a hand-carved whetstone with smooth edges and abraded sides indicative of heavy use. The handle is enveloped in a lustrous green and brown patina, making this a fabulous example from the ancient Near East! Size: 9.5" L x 1" W x 3.875" H (24.1 cm x 2.5 cm x 9.8 cm); 5.625" H (14.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Ordinary soldiers and people who would carry a knife to use as a weapon would carry a whetstone to sharpen the knife. However, an elite member of the community would have a special finial or handle like this example fitted to the whetstone. The ibex was an astronomical symbol of great importance from the earliest Near Eastern civilizations; some have suggested that it was at one time more important in Near Eastern iconography than the bull. What's more, some scholars have theorized that the animals depicted on Luristan weaponry were believed to possess apotropaic properties and could bestow their power on the objects they were sharpening.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA; ex-estate of Dina Ricanti 944 5th Ave, New York, New York, USA. Ms. Ricanti was an active buyer on the New York auction scene in the 1970s to 1990s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

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#182382

Whetstone and bronze handle are not secured to one another. Loss to exterior tip of whetstone as shown.