**Originally Listed At $500**

Ancient Near East, modern day northwestern Iran, Luristan, ca. 1000 to 600 BCE. A cast bronze bell with an openwork form and three abstract bird heads projecting at regular intervals around the center. Inside are three bronze balls to create sound. This type of bell is known as a "double-conoid cage bell" and several of these were excavated from Marlik, a major archaeological site associated with Luristan - a mound that contained fifty-three tombs. We do not know why they were placed inside the tombs - perhaps they were played during funeral ceremonies, or their silence from lack of use symbolized the silence of death. Size: 4.6" L x 3.55" W (11.7 cm x 9 cm)

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

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#121295

Patina is dark, with areas of encrusted turquoise and azurite-blue green. Still functional.