A Luristan Bronze Pin, ca. 1st millennium BCE

Luristan bronze pins, such as this example with its lollipop-type finial and ribbed geometric pattern, is one of two different groupings of Western Persian pins: the first consists of those with simple cast heads depicting discs, domes, cones, and other basic geometric shapes, fruit and floral shapes, and zoomorphic shapes. They were common in Luristan as well as other areas of western Persia. The second (or third as P.R.S. Moorey categorizes it) grouping consists of those with normally circular, hammered sheet-bronze heads; design in repousse or chased on the surface. These pins are almost exclusively found in Luristan.

It is almost impossible to differentiate the functions of certain pins, except for the suggestion that a hole in the shank of the pin indicates it was a garment pin rather than a hair pin.

Reference: P.R.S. Mooney, Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1971, pgs 172-215.

Dimensions: Length: 6 1/4 inches (15.9 cm)

Condition: With blue-green surface patina, pin shaft slightly bent, but otherwise intact and in good condition overall. Presented on a museum quality custom mount.

Provenance: Estate collection of Nourollah Elghanayan , NYC., acquired 1960s - 70s.