Master of the Animals Finial

ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze: Cu, 86.32; Sn, 11.7; Pb, 1.27; Zn, 0.005; Fe, 0.11; Ni, 0.05; Ag, 0.01; Sb, 0.09; As, 0.38; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.057; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001 J. Riederer

XRF data from Tracer Alloy: Bronze Alloying Elements: copper, tin Other Elements: lead, iron, arsenic K. Eremin, January 2014

Gray burial accretions cover most of the surface. Smaller areas of green and red and a well-preserved surface appear where the accretions have come off. The central pin used to secure the finial to a support (see 2005.78.A-C) is intact at the interior, but the pin is missing its top decorative portion and perhaps the tip. As with the other Luristan finials, the irregular and fluid character of the design elements indicates direct work in the wax model. The wax would have been worked over a central cylindrical core, providing an open area for the tube or pin used to secure the finial to a support (see 2005.78.A-C). All of the “Master of Animals” finials are heavier and have thicker walls than the finials that depict only animals. The wall thickness of this finial varies from 2 to 4 mm. The crisp incised decorative lines were cold worked in the metal surface. The broader grooves show fine striations indicating that they were cut abrasively or using a file-like edge. Henry Lie (submitted 2012)