Comprising two belt sections, each perforated around the edges for attachment: one with a repoussé display of alternating lions leaping towards warriors on horseback, leaping horned bulls and archers standing in horse-drawn war chariot; one fragment with articulate loop; the other folding over on itself, with repoussé display of helmetted warriors on horseback, alternating with warriors driving horse-drawn chariots; Urartian or Assyrian. [2, No Reserve]

PROVENANCE:
Ex Axel Guttmann collection, with reference no.AG R 244.

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.11760-203204.

LITERATURE:
Cf. Esayan, S.A., 'Gürtelbleche der Älteren Eisenzeit in Armenien' in Beiträge zur allgemeinen und vergleichenden Archäologie, vol.6, pp.97-198, pls. 8 & 25, nos.25 and 26 (belts from Golovino); Born H., Seidl U., Schutzwaffen aus Assyrien und Urartu, Sammlung Axel Guttmann IV, Mainz, 1995, nos.AG502, pp.83-84, figs.73-75, and pp.100-102, figs.89-93, pp.158ff., figs.124, 127-128; Christie’s,The Art of Warfare, the Axel Guttmann collection, Part I, Wednesday 6 November 2002, London, 2001, nos.13, pp.20-21, no.26, p.28; Gorelik, M.,Weapons of the Ancient East, IV millennium BC-IV century BC, Saint Petersburg (2003), pl.LXI, nn.88-89-90; Christie’s,The art of the warfare, the Axel Guttmann collection, Part II, Wednesday 28 April 2004, London, 2004, nos.47, pp.40-41; cf. also the Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 1976.5, for similar imagery on a copper-alloy plaque and accession number 1989.281.18, for an Urartian belt of similar form and design.