Persian
Bull-Headed Mace (gorz-e gavsar), 1785-1786
Cast iron inlaid with gold and silver , 66.3 cm (26 1/8 in.)
General admission for children 17 years and under is always free
This is an inlaid, black cast iron mace in the shape of a bulls head, measuring just over 26 inches. This Persian weapon has a metal shaft with inlaid silver bands on the top and bottom. It terminates in a young bull head complete with horn and ears, entirely inlaid with gold and silver. The intricate heavily inlays of silver and gold on the head form a swirling pattern, contrasting with the geometric designs found on the shaft. The bull’s ears are represented as hollow tubes protruding from either side of the head. There are two holes for the nose and a deep line representing the mouth of the bull.
Gothic Room
Commentary
Although arms and armor are not prominently featured in Isabella Gardner's galleries, a surprising number can be found throughout the museum—if one looks carefully. Gardner placed this Persian bull-headed mace, made of cast iron and inlaid with silver and gold, at the north end of this early sixteenth-century walnut table. Its fine craftsmanship indicates it was likely used for ceremonial rather than martial purposes. An inscription on the bull's head "Fereydun-as-Sultan" suggests a noble provenance. In Persian mythology, King Fereydon slew a dragon with a bull-headed mace. As symbols of justice, maces like this one were created as symbols of power and authority in the eighteenth century. To add to their gravitas, many of them whistle when swung as air passes through the ears.