Scythian Bronze Applique

Culture: Ordos

Period: 5th-4th century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 4.4 cm x 3.5 cm

Price: 1 200 Euro

Ref: 5055

Provenance: French private collection, auctioned on 15 December 2010 at Drouot, lot 41.

Condition: A disk is slightly dented, otherwise intact.

Description: Finely worked bronze applique possibly once decorating a belt or a saddle of a warrior of the steppe. Two stylized donkey heads in profile facing to the left. The ears are raised, the jaw circularly open. This opening was possibly used to sew the applique on a leather. Above and below a pair of circular disks. Bronzes like this are attributed to the Ordos culture, named after the Ordos plateau in the south part of inner Mongolia. From the 6th to the 2nd century B.C. the region was under Caucasian influence, during this period probably the most eastern settled tribe of the Scythians was located.