Details

LOT 0366

Western Asiatic Urartian Winged Bull Cauldron Applique

7TH CENTURY BC

6 7/8" (900 grams, 17.5cm).

An impressive bronze vessel mount of a finely modelled bull's head with powerful features, horns curving up, detailing of fur to the front of the head, engraved lines to delineate the eyes, snout and mouth; attached to plate in form of outspread wings, tail below, with engraved details to the feathers; attachment holes to wings and tail.

Provenance

Property of a European gentleman; formerly acquired on the German art market before 1980. Accompanied by X-Ray Fluorescence metal analysis certificate number 00955-2018WA.

Literature

Cf. Mildenberg Collection, no.18 (reign of Argishti II, King of Uratu, 713-685 BC); and for a similar example in the British Museum, see accession number 91242; and also see Sotheby's, New York, 17 December 1998, lot 218.

Footnotes

The fitting would have been one of four to the rim of a large bronze cauldron. Urartu was centered in eastern Anatolia, around Lake Van; the capital, Tushpa, was located on the eastern shore of the lake, situated on a high and elongated rock outcrop. Most sites boasted a well-built temple situated at the highest point, as well as a number of large storage rooms containing rows of large vessels for storing oil and grains, and massive well-built fortification walls.

CONDITION