Luristan Bronze statuette of a goat - 40 mm

Luristan Bronze Statuette of a Goat

Culture / Period: Luristan
Date / Period: 1200–1000 B.C.
Material: Bronze
Dimensions: 40 mm
Condition: Good condition

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:
Object Registration ID: 724
The current owner purchased this object from a reputable Dutch numismatic auction house in Schiedam, the Netherlands. Due to privacy regulations, the name of the previous owner could not be disclosed. No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.


Background Information:
This finely stylized bronze statuette represents a goat, one of the characteristic animal figures produced by the bronze-working cultures of ancient Luristan. Dating to approximately 1200–1000 B.C., it belongs to the flourishing Early Iron Age tradition for which Luristan bronzes are renowned.

Goats held an important place in the economy and belief systems of the mountain communities of Luristan. As hardy animals well adapted to rugged landscapes, they symbolized vitality, fertility, abundance, and resilience, reflecting their essential role in pastoral life. Small bronze figures such as this were likely created for use as votive offerings, ritual objects, or decorative attachments to ceremonial equipment.

Luristan craftsmen developed a highly distinctive artistic style, characterized by simplified forms combined with expressive silhouettes. Produced using sophisticated bronze-casting techniques, these statuettes formed part of a broader tradition that also included weapons, horse trappings, standards, and ornamental fittings. Their craftsmanship reflects an organized metallurgical tradition that flourished during the Bronze and Early Iron Ages.

Luristan bronzes were traded over considerable distances and are found among the most recognizable metalworks of the ancient Near East. This statuette provides a direct and tangible connection to the people of Luristan, where symbolic animal figures such as this played an important role in both everyday beliefs and ritual practice.