A rare mortar with two animal head handles - image-1
A rare mortar with two animal head handles - image-2
A rare mortar with two animal head handles - image-1A rare mortar with two animal head handles - image-2

Lot 523 Dα

A rare mortar with two animal head handles

Auction 1152 - overview Cologne
29.05.2020, 11:00 - Highly Important Mortars from the Schwarzach Collection II
Estimate: 3.000 € - 4.000 €
Result: 3.125 € (incl. premium)
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A rare mortar with two animal head handles

Chased cast bronze with damascening (?), red pigment, remnants of gilding. Of cylindrical form with protruding upper and lower rims and two handles formed as animal head mascarons holding loops. Decorated with two rows of raised bosses alternating with foliate motifs. Sintering and greenish corrosion, one ring broken or possibly replaced, some inlays lacking. H 8.6, W 15.5 cm. Weight c. 3 kg.
Attributed to Western Iran, 13th century.

Provenance

Archaeological find, Balkh, Northern Afghanistan.

Literature

An identical mortar is housed in the Victoria & Albert Museum London, mus.no. 466-1876.