Luristan Bronze Horse Bit with Horses
11th-8th century B.C. The cheekpieces formed as stylised horses with small ears, elongated heads and long tails, a circular opening to the body for the bar to pass through, two loops to the body and two spurs to the reverse. Cf. Legrain, L., Luristan Bronzes in the University Museum, Philadelphia, 1934, pl.XVIII no.52; Musée Cernuschi, Bronzes de Luristan, enigmes de l'Iran Ancien, IIIe-Ier millenaire av. J.C., Paris, 2008, p.111, no.71, 112, nos.72-73, for similar types. 654 grams, 21 cm wide (8 1/4 in.).

Ex Paris collection. French gallery, Paris, 1990-2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11975-210127

In Luristan, horses were usually buried with a bronze horse-bit in their mouths, as shown by finds from Sarkishti, where the horses’ teeth were stained green.