A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-1
A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-2
A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-3
A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-1A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-2A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle - image-3

Lot 504 Dα

A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle

Auction 1174 - overview Cologne
04.06.2021, 10:00 - Highly Important Mortars from the Schwarzach Collection III
Estimate: 3.000 € - 4.000 €
Result: 5.500 € (incl. premium)
Print page
Watchlist

A rare Iranian mortar with animal head handles and pestle

Cast bronze with fine engraved decoration, remnants of red pigment, pleasant patina with slight verdigris. Cylindrical mortar with protruding upper and lower edges. Decorated with two rows of four and six prunts on a broad band of meandering tendrils. The upper and lower rims with bands of (possibly Kufic) calligraphy and foliate ornaments. Both animal head mascarons holding rings. H 11, W 18.5 cm, weight c. 4.2 kg. The corresponding tapering pestle with rounded terminals. L
Eastern Iran, 12th - 13th C.

Literature

Cf. a similar mortar in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, acc. no. 13.81.
Cf. von Folsach, Kunst fra Islams Verden i Davids Samling, Copenhagen 2001, no. 477.