A finely cast Bronze Age bronze ceremonial mace head. The piece features a cylindrical flared base which expands into a globular knob, decorated with a pattern of cross-hatched grooves and rhombic ridges. The knob is framed on the top and bottom with three encircling, horizontal bands. The mace head is covered with earthly encrustation, light blue, and dark patination. There is a large chip on the top rim of the mace head. A mace head may have been mounted on a shaft as a symbol of rank, perhaps a derivative from a weapon of similar form. Throughout the ancient world, mace heads varied significantly, and we know of a great number with different styles and decorations. Several important examples were shaped by the local metalworkers from the third millennium BC. These mace heads may not only have served a purpose in warfare, but also in religious contexts – perhaps being associated with piety. Indeed, mace heads played an important role as votive offerings in shrines across Mesopotamia. Measurements (circa): H 10.5cm x W 5cm Provenance: Ex. collection of a London gentleman, 1990s.