Massive Near Eastern Bronze Statuette of a Grazing Animal

Culture: Eastern Iran

Period: 9th century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 16 cm long

Price: Sold

Ref: 6504

Provenance: From the US art market, acquired in the early 2000s.

Condition: The surface slightly rough in places, otherwise intact.

Description: Large and massive cast bronze statuette of a grazing animal, probably a sheep, from the eastern Iranian cultural region. The animal worked out in early geometric style, with short, tapering legs, a long neck and a massive, downwards facing bird head. The large, round eyes are bulging, the strong neck is overlong. At the back the enclosed tail hangs at the right angle. The flanks on the sides of the animal are flattened. The exceedingly heavy statuette is semi-circularly hollow between the legs, where it possibly was mounted on a backrest and served as a hand rest. But also possible is that the statuette of a grazer was sacrificed as an important votive offering.