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THBImpressive Persian Achaemenid Bronze Shield Boss
Lot 73e
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$4,000 - $6,000
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| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jul 19, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-07-19 10:00:00
2018-07-19 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities/Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3329
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe, plus fine art. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (395)
- Lot Description
Ancient Near East, Achaemenid Persian Empire, ca. 500 to 330 BCE, probably later in the period. A large shield boss, also known as an umbo, made of hammered and stamped bronze, with remains of gilding on the surface and repeated motifs of triangles, lines, and lightning bolt shapes. These motifs ring around a raised, nipple-like projection at the center. Eight drilled holes around the edge allowed attachment via rivets to the larger part of a shield. This item was made to be part of a violin-shield, a double-gripped style of shield known from Persepolis. The shield was oval, with circular cut outs from the side that gave it the appearance of a violin, with a central metal boss. According to Herodotus, it was carried by an elite infantry unit known as the Persian Immortals. Size: 10.75" W (27.3 cm)
Herodotus wrote that the Immortals were so called because, even if one fell in battle, he was immediately replaced by another, keeping the group of 10,000 soldiers at a constant strength. These same guards may be the ones known as the "Susian Guards," depicted in the Palace of Darius I in Susa. A similar shield with boss is known from the Oxus Treasure, dated to the Achaemenid period and found in modern Tajikistan.
Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection; ex-Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger Auction 277-278, Munich, Germany, lot 938
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#132855Loss to one part of the edge with a short fissure down from the area of loss. Central raised boss damaged. Interestingly, this boss was cleaned and partially shined save for one small section outlined in tape. This area shows the surface prior to any cleaning and as the piece was found.Condition
- Shipping Info
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