Ancient Eastern Mediterranean, Phoenicia, ca. 8th to 7th century BCE. A beautiful example of a bronze musical instrument called a chalcophone, composed of two parallel bars - each with its terminals twisted into tight spirals - linked by eleven bronze wires with thick springs on them. To be played, someone would shake or pluck at the springs. The instrument has a delightful, whimsical appearance. An ivory pyxis from Phoenicia held by the British Museum (N.973) depicts a frieze of musicians playing double pipes, the tambourine, and chalcophones amidst palm and lotus trees, while a goddess overseeing a banquet observes, giving us an idea of how it would have been played and under what circumstances. Size: 5.1" W x 6.9" H (13 cm x 17.5 cm); 8.1" H (20.6 cm) on included custom stand.
Fascinatingly, chalcophones are found almost exclusively in Phoenicia and in South Italian Iron Age burials, suggesting a link between east and west. Similar, but not identical instruments also have been found in Ur. Chalcophones are often found alongside a type of instrument called "sonagliera," similar to chimes. In the South Italic contexts, they are associated with the graves of adult women. This is also true in Assyrian contexts, and the later Apulian sistrum - a similar instrument, depicted on red-figure vases is also associated with women, and, specifically, with religious contexts. So who would have used this beautiful instrument? It seems likely that it would have belonged to a high status woman, perhaps a priestess, musician, or dancer at religious ceremonies.
See a similar example at Bonhams London, which sold in 2014 for US $20,598: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21926/lot/94/
Provenance: ex-Davis collection, Houston, Texas, acquired before 2013 from various auction houses in London and New York
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#133024
Condition
One of the springs is bent, and one other is missing one end of its support rod. Beautiful bright green patina.