Lot 45
Ancient Near East, Sassanian (Sassanid) Empire, ca. 500 CE. An ornate, cast bronze fire starter with an iron striking surface. The handle features a three-dimensional lion attacking an elephant. The lion, often a symbol of royalty, nearly dwarfs the elephant, whose trunk wraps around the lion's neck. The lower part of the fire starter has low-relief, repeated geometric patterns, both where it holds the long iron surface and along the bar that holds the two fighting animals. Comes with custom stand. Size: 6" L x 0.6" W x 3.8" H (15.2 cm x 1.5 cm x 9.7 cm); height on stand: 6.65" (10.7 cm).
Elephants from this region - referred to as "Syrian elephants" by Classical authors - were the westernmost population of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). They became extinct some time around 100 BCE through overhunting for their ivory, but kings in the region continued to import them from India in order to use as cavalry in war. The Sassanians used them in many campaigns against western enemies, continuing a long tradition from the Persians and Seleucids. Animals also played a role in circuses, and elephants may have been kept captive to fight other animals. For example, a mosaic from Roman Syria shows an elephant fighting a feline much like the scene on this fire starter (see the Minneapolis Institute of Art: 69.49.2), which has been interpreted as a scene from the gladitorial ring.
Provenance: Ex-private New Jersey collection acquired over 20 years ago
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#121236
- Condition: One end has lost its tip (the end attached to the stand), and there are some stable fractures in the bronze below the two figures.
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