Ancient Near East, modern day Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey, Urartu, Urartian, Iron Age III, ca. 7th century BCE. A mesmerizing relief section, skillfully carved on a rich dark green stone. The composition depicts an action-packed hunting scene - the hunter on horseback is aiming his bow and arrow at a rearing ferocious lion - below is a panel featuring a boar in profile facing right and framed by a dotted border, with a cross-hatched register underscoring it. The hunting scene is replete with wonderful details - note the lion's curly mane, sharp claws, and curled tail as well as the horse's neatly manicured plaited mane and scallop-edged bridle. Clearly the artist was interested in conveying the drama and excitement of this event! Size: 3.375" W x 3.375" H (8.6 cm x 8.6 cm); 4.5" H (11.4 cm) on included custom stand.
The civilization of Urartu was one of several states that arose following the destruction of the Hittite state in approximately 1200 BCE. Others included Tabal, Phrygia, and Lydia - each one possessed its own distinct language, religion, ethnicity, and visual culture. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Heilbrunn essay, "In their inscriptions, the Assyrians of Mesopotamia refer to the Urartians as their northern enemies from the eleventh to the seventh centuries B.C. However, the earliest known Urartian written document, a rock inscription at Van (ancient Tushpa), records the earliest reference to the state. There it says that Urartu was ruled by a king named Sarduri (r. ca. 840–830 B.C.), and mentions a male deity, Haldi, the supreme god throughout Urartian history."
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Frances Artuner collection, Belgium, acquired in the 1960s
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#146203
Condition
A section from a larger relief panel with losses to peripheries as shown. Encrustations on the verso as well as a rectangular stain from old collection label as shown.