**Originally Listed At $800**

Ancient Near East, northwestern Iran, Amlash, ca. early 1st millennium BCE. An interesting cast-bronze handle used to adorn large bronze vessels. The handle exhibits the shape of an abstract bull with T-shaped forelegs, a curving body, rivets doubling as the 'back legs,' a conical snout with a discoid nose, and a pair of projecting horns with discoid tips. Atop the larger bull is a smaller cast-bronze bull effigy boasting a powerful body, stocky legs, delineated genitalia, and a cylindrical head with a pair of prominent horns. The top of the handle is decorated with dozens of finely-incised diagonal striations, and the entire composition is enveloped in thick green and brown patina. Size: 5.125" L x 1.9" W x 2.75" H (13 cm x 4.8 cm x 7 cm).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Nourollah Elganian estate collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired in the 1960s to 1970s

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#143851

Small losses to horns of both bulls, minor nicks to handle, bull effigy, and attachment brackets, softening to some finer details, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits as well as great green and brown patina throughout.