Finial

Object Details

• Description

  Anthropomorphic tube flanked by rampant animals. A human head and torso at top: two human faces, one on each side of tube, with prominent ears and nose. Raised lines mark a necklace and bands on the chest. A second human face, also with prominent nose, in the center of the tube. The figure with torso grasps the necks of two creatures with cock's combs, gaping jaws, and prominent eye-coils. The creatures' elongated necks terminate in bird heads, facing downwards. The lower part of the tube consists of the second figure's haunches and legs, rendered sculpturally.

• Provenance

  To the late 1950s or 1960s

  H. Khan Monif (died 1968), New York to the late 1950s or 1960s [1]

  From the late 1950s or 1960s to 1996

  Emma C. Bunker, purchased in New York City from H. Khan Monif in the late 1950s or 1960s [2]

  From 1996

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Mr. John B. and Mrs. Emma C. Bunker, Wheatland, WY, in 1996

  Notes:

  [1] According to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  H. Kahn Monif (died 1968)

  John B. Bunker and Emma C. Bunker

• Origin

  Luristan, Iran

• Credit Line

  Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Bunker in memory of Dr. Edith Porada

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Monif, H. Kahn, Bunker, John B.

• Place

  Luristan

• Topic

  Iron Age III (ca. 800 - 500 BCE), Art, Animals, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Iron Age II (ca. 1250 - 800 BCE), Birds

• Culture

  Iranians, Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry