Details

LOT 0243

Achaemenid Bronze Rhyton with Horned Lion

5TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.

6 1/4 in. (748 grams, 16 cm).

With a curved tapering body, the protome formed as a mythical horned lion with folded wings, mouth with a hole and large hollow eyes to accept inlay, the short, dense mane marked with vertical grooves.

Provenance

From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent.
Property of a New Zealand legal professional.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12325-223713.

Literature

Cf. Rawlinson, G.M.A., The five great Monarchies of the Ancient Eastern World, III vol., New York, 1881; Carter, M.L., Goldstein, S., Harper, P.O., Kawami, T.S., Meyers, P., Splendors of the Ancient East, Antiquities from the al-Sabah collection, London, 2013; Ebbinghaus, S., Feasting with gods, heroes, and kings, Cambridge, 2019, p.116, no.3.24, for similar specimen; cf. also a similar rhyton in the Miho Museum, Japan, inv.no. H-17.5 D-10 W-5.2.