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Lot Essay
There are differences of opinion as to when the sport of falconry - the hunting of wild animals with a bird of prey - was first practised but it seems to have been established by at least the 7th century BC. Introduced into Europe from the east, probably around the year 400AD, it became increasingly popular in the 13th century when Frederick II of Hohenstaufen (1194-1250) had translated an arabic manual of falconry into Latin: De Scientia Venandi per Aves. Because of its dependence on time, money and land, falconry was always considered to be a sport of royalty and the nobility. The present bronze group of a man on horseback bearing his falcon on his left arm is a very early and rare depiction of the sport in European art.
The original function of the group is difficult to determine. It relates closely to a number of Horse and Rider aquamaniles and the top of the rider's head is open which would allow water to be poured in. However, the horse appears never to have had a spout in his mouth. Some aquamaniles of this type have a spout in the horse's chest and there is evidence of a square patch on the present group which may replace an earlier spout. However it should also be noted that a number of aquamaniles have a similar patch which may have been part of the process of removing the core material after casting. Other Horse and Rider groups function as candlesticks, however these normally have a socket or pricket that is held by the rider. The simplest solution may be that the present lot was intended merely as an artistic depiction of an increasingly fashionable sport. It has been suggested that there may originally have been a crown or hat cast separately that has been lost.
Stylistically, the group relates closely to several Horse and Rider groups, all of which are aquamaniles dated to the 13th century (see Falke and Meyer, op. cit., numbers 295, 296 and 299, figs. 262, 263 and 266 and Barnet and Dandridge, loc. cit., for the closest comparisons). All depict the rider with similar elongated proportions, wearing a long coat and with straight legs pushing forward into the stirrups and wearing pointed shoes. The horses each stand in a fairly upright posture with the head extending gently forward and wearing the same distinctive high saddle and elaborate harness. The present group is notable for the delicate engraving which extends over the harness, the saddle and the rider's costume, and includes details such as the curls of the horse's mane and decoration down the sleeves of the rider's coat. Among all the groups noted above, only the group in the Cloisters (inv. 47.101.55) is thought to represent a falconer, although the falcon itself is, in fact, lacking.
For more general information on aquamaniles, please see the introduction to this section.
This lot comes with Metallography and Analysis report #R1168 by Dr. Peter Northover.
The original function of the group is difficult to determine. It relates closely to a number of Horse and Rider aquamaniles and the top of the rider's head is open which would allow water to be poured in. However, the horse appears never to have had a spout in his mouth. Some aquamaniles of this type have a spout in the horse's chest and there is evidence of a square patch on the present group which may replace an earlier spout. However it should also be noted that a number of aquamaniles have a similar patch which may have been part of the process of removing the core material after casting. Other Horse and Rider groups function as candlesticks, however these normally have a socket or pricket that is held by the rider. The simplest solution may be that the present lot was intended merely as an artistic depiction of an increasingly fashionable sport. It has been suggested that there may originally have been a crown or hat cast separately that has been lost.
Stylistically, the group relates closely to several Horse and Rider groups, all of which are aquamaniles dated to the 13th century (see Falke and Meyer, op. cit., numbers 295, 296 and 299, figs. 262, 263 and 266 and Barnet and Dandridge, loc. cit., for the closest comparisons). All depict the rider with similar elongated proportions, wearing a long coat and with straight legs pushing forward into the stirrups and wearing pointed shoes. The horses each stand in a fairly upright posture with the head extending gently forward and wearing the same distinctive high saddle and elaborate harness. The present group is notable for the delicate engraving which extends over the harness, the saddle and the rider's costume, and includes details such as the curls of the horse's mane and decoration down the sleeves of the rider's coat. Among all the groups noted above, only the group in the Cloisters (inv. 47.101.55) is thought to represent a falconer, although the falcon itself is, in fact, lacking.
For more general information on aquamaniles, please see the introduction to this section.
This lot comes with Metallography and Analysis report #R1168 by Dr. Peter Northover.