LOT 0274

Large Caucasian Buckle with Three Stags

3RD-2ND CENTURY BC

4 1/4 x 4 1/4" (258 grams, 11.1 x 11.1cm).

A substantial bronze, square-shaped openwork buckle with three stylised stags, the larger central stag with antlers formed as two volutes, galloping right, smaller stags above, smaller animal bounding left below, scrolls in field; all set within a border comprising two rows of scrollwork motifs; rounded bosses in each of the four rounded corners; integral 'hook' and 'eye' to reverse for attachment.

Formerly in the private collection of a former Israeli ambassador, Mr N.M.; acquired in Vienna, Austria, in the 1990s; accompanied by a copy of a seven page examination report number 138/2019 by Dr. habil Mikhail Treister; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no. 10365-168742.

Cf. Bunker, E., Chatwin, C.B., & Farkas, A.R., Animal Style from East to West, New York, 1970, for discussion; cf. Aruz, J., Farkas, A., Alekseev, A., & Korolova, E., edn., The Golden Deer of Eurasia, New York, 2000, for discussion; cf. Muscarella, O.W., Bronze and Iron: Ancient Near Eastern Artefacts in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1988, p.440, fig.581, for a close parallel.

An extract from the accompanying report written by Dr. habil Mikhail Treister states: 'In spite of the fact that numerous buckles are known they are decorated with various main compositions and different frame design. The buckle (here) shows an elaborately execution (sic) composition, the direct parallels to which are unknown to me and is also of very good state of preservation, making it one of the best examples of this group.'