Luristan, modern day Iran, ca. 1000 to 600 BCE. This is a pair of small bronze cymbals with excellent bronze patina. They are round, concave forms with long, thin handles. High-tin bronze, generally around 19-25 weight percent tin (although ancient alloys are highly variable), is hard and brittle and has a sonorous tone. It can also be polished to a highly reflective silver surface. Because of the color and tone, this alloy was used in the ancient world for making mirrors and musical instruments like these cymbals. Many cymbals of a similar, but flatter, design have been excavated from tombs at the important Luristan archaeological site of Marlik. Size of largest: 2.9" W x 2.8" H (7.4 cm x 7.1 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#112942

One had been repaired at the top; the other has a slight chip to the rim. Their shapes are clear.