Lot 68B
Near East, Anatolia or Iran, Achaemenid Empire, ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. A magnificent applique comprised of 18K gold sheet - depicting a winged bull striding forward in profile with a finely delineated visage, horn, feathers, and curled tail - all finely modeled in repousse. Ancient Greek writers described the impressive wealth of the Persians. To quote Herodotus when speaking of Xerxes' troops, they "were adorned with the greatest magnificence
. They glittered all over with gold, vast quantities of which they wore about their persons." (Vii. 83). So what was the significance of the winged lion in ancient near east? Its iconographical history runs deep, appearing in different civilizations, and the winged lion has been shown on various artifacts - perhaps the most famous being the Power Ring of Arjan and the Great Darius Poniard. These were symbols of might created to demonstrate the importance of regals. Today the winged lion is generally understood as a symbol of pre-Islamic Persian nationality. Size: 1.5" W x 1.375" H (3.8 cm x 3.5 cm)
The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BCE (including Iran, Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Caucasus, Thrace and some parts of India) is generally regarded as one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. Its capital, Pasargadae, was Cyrus the Great's final resting place and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To demonstrate the Achaemenid Empire's love of gold, associates of Alexander the Great in accounts of a tomb in Pasargadae, described a golden sarcophagus, necklaces, and gold gemstone earrings. The tomb is located in Pasargadae, in the garden of a royal palace where an ensemble of artifacts known as the Pasargadae Treasure - including various articles of gold and silver, jewelry and gemstones - were found in a ceramic amphora.
Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000
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#130979
- Condition: Superb.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |