Lot 49
Eastern Europe, Balkan Peninsula, Avar culture, ca. 700 CE. A stunning and unique bronze vessel comprised of two globular sections joined by an attenuated, cylindrical waist. The top section is adorned with 6 recumbent ibexes in repousse with an incised band of twisted motif just beneath the rim. The Avars were a group of equestrian warrior nomads of Altaic extraction who established an empire spanning considerable areas of Central and Eastern Europe from the late 6th to the early 9th century. They were ruled by a Khagan, who led a tight-knit entourage of professional nomad warriors. Although the name Avar first appeared in the mid-5th century, the Avars of Europe enter the historical scene in the mid-6th century CE, having formed as a mixed band of warriors in the Pontic-Caspian steppe wishing to escape Goturk rule. Size: 4.125" Diameter x 5.5" H (10.5 cm x 14 cm)
The Avars linguistic affiliation may be tentatively deduced from a variety of sources, betraying a variety of languages spoken by ruling and subject clans. Oghur, a distinct branch of the Turkic languages, figures prominently for the original Avar language. Slavic ultimately became the lingua franca in the Avar Khaganate.
Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, vol. XVIII (2007), no. 191.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA; ex-Cahn auction, Basel, 2005; ex-Hr. B. collection, Switzerland, acquired from 1960 - 1980
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#190847
- Condition: Some stable fissures, minor perforations, and small indentations as shown, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice presentation with good preservation of detail and rich earthen deposits throughout.
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