A gold rhyton comprising: foot terminal of a ribbed cylinder with horse-head finial in the round, with wire collar at joint and throat; mouthpiece of conical form with applied braided wire ornament at ends, depicting a series of repoussé figures in two bands: the lower band a horseman brandishing spear and two animals each with lion biting neck; the upper a horseman with spear, a small sphinx and two combat scenes each with a swordsman hacking at a naked spearman; lacking a small section affecting one of the lower band animals only, with the gold mounts affixed to a wooden display body.

PROVENANCE:
From a European collection; previously in a large American collection formed in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1995; previously in the Mansees collection; formed 1950s-early 1990s; accompanied by an examination report from Striptwist Ltd, a London-based company run by historical precious metal specialist Dr Jack Ogden. Accompanied by X-ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate 00923-2017GR

LITERATURE:
Cf. Shemackanskaya, M. S. Metals and Things - Items, Internals, Destruction, Restoration, Moscow, 2015, inc. p.245; accompanied by a copy of the relevant book pages.

FOOTNOTES:
After battle, Scythian warriors would drink the blood of the first enemy they had killed, from a cup. With the bloody taste still in their mouth, the Scythian would decapitate the corpses of his slain enemies to use as grisly vouchers in the distribution of booty. Only warriors who presented the heads of their slain enemies would receive their share from the king.