Decorative plate

Luristan is the central mountain area in West-Iran. The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden managed to acquire a collection of Luristan bronzes on the art market, with this bronze decorative shield as prime example. Other shields are known, but those do not feature any decoration. The unique character of this shield, an umbo, is determined by the great craftmanship with which the decorative scenes have been applied. An umbo was the central decorative plate attached onto a wooden shield.
Around the boss in the middle of the shield two scenes are depicted: a hunting scene and a court scene. The boss is decorated with a string of lotus buds and pomegranates. The court scene shows us a king on a throne, with two men in front of him, bringing three ibexes and a bull up to him. A courtier is standing behind the king.
The other scene shows us a lion hunt. An archer is taking aim, and a man on a bull seems to be hacking away at the lion with an axe. The latter has a strongly curved blade and a sleeve finished with pointed arrows. It is a type of axe characteristic of the bronze culture of Luristan. The hunting scene has been rendered in a lively manner, with beautiful details like the bull’s legs and the lion’s outstretched claws.