Lot 90
  • 90

A Scythian Gold Bridle Ornament, circa 6th Century B.C.

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description

  • A Scythian Gold Bridle Ornament
  • Length 3 in. 7.6 cm.
in the form of a couchant boar hammered in sheet gold over a bone core with silver overlay on the flat back, traces of a square tenon remaining, the boar of stylized form with massive curving tusk.

Provenance

J.J. Klejman, New York, probably acquired before 1966

Literature

Emma C. Bunker, C. Bruce Chatwin, and Ann R. Farkas, "Animal Style" Art from East to West, catalogue of the exhibition at the Asia Society, New York, 1970, no. 35b, illus.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, Notable Acquisitions, 1979-1980, p. 10

Catalogue Note

For two closely related examples cf. Sotheby's, Ernest Brummer Collection, no. 174, and MMA Bulletin, Notable Acquisitions, 1979-1980, p. 10 ("Animal Style" Art from East to West, no.35a ). The author observes that the three appliques are so similar that they may have come from the same set of horse trappings. The example in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, loaned by Christos Bastis in 1966 and given in 1979/80, was probably also acquired from J.J. Klejman.