Ancient Near East/Asia Minor, Anatolia, modern day Turkey/Armenia, Caucasus region, Urartu culture, ca. 7th century BCE. A gorgeous protome cast from bronze in the form of a highly stylized bull head. The bovine countenance presents with a wide, muscular neck of a hollow form that is filled with lead for stability, a downward-facing head with a thick snout, recessed orbitals that perhaps held inlays of shell or precious stones at one time, perky ears, and a pair of horns flanking an upturned coiffure. Two volute-shaped panels spiral down the sides of the neck before becoming conjoined with a horizontal collar, and a repeating register of zigzagging lines rings around the base of the neck. Two perforations along the base suggest this protome was intended to accentuate a larger object, perhaps a chariot or a sizable chest. Thick layers of russet and forest green patina cover the entire object in color. Size: 1.7" W x 2.875" H (4.3 cm x 7.3 cm)
Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, vol. X, 1999, no. 253; vol. XXII (2011), no. 196. Cf. J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, Vol. IV, 1985, p. 155, no. 502.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Gallery, New York, New York, USA, acquired in Paris, France in March 1996
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#165070
Condition
Minor abrasions and nicks to ears, horns, face, and neck, with light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great patina throughout. Lead interior filling is still present with old inventory label written on base.