A GREEK BRONZE HORSE
A GREEK BRONZE HORSE
A GREEK BRONZE HORSE
1 More
A GREEK BRONZE HORSE
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This lot has been imported from outside of the UK … Read more PROPERTY FROM THE RASSLA FOUNDATION, ZURICH
A GREEK BRONZE HORSE

GEOMETRIC PERIOD, CIRCA 8TH CENTURY B.C.

Details
A GREEK BRONZE HORSE
GEOMETRIC PERIOD, CIRCA 8TH CENTURY B.C.
2 15⁄16 in. (7.4 cm.) long
Provenance
with Dr. Elie Borowski, Basel, 16 November 1974.
Dr Giancarlo Ligabue (1931-2015), acquired from the above.
Literature
H. Bloesch et al., Das Tier in der Antike: 400 Werke ägyptischer, griechischer, etruskischer und römischer Kunst aus privatem und öffentlichem Besitz, Zurich, 1974, p. 25, no. 144, taf. 25.
W.-D. Heilmeyer, "Frühe olympische Bronzefiguren: Die Tiervotive," in Olympische Forschungen 12, Berlin, 1979, p. 103, no. 139.
J.-L. Zimmermann, Les chevaux de bronze dans l'art géométrique grec, Mainz, 1989, pp. 25, 42, no. 88, pl. 6.
Exhibited
Das Tier in der Antike: 400 Werke ägyptischer, griechischer, etruskischer und römischer Kunst aus privatem und öffentlichem Besitz, the Archaeological Institute of the University of Zürich, 21 September-17 November 1974.
Special notice
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
Sale room notice
Please note that the second line of provenance for this lot should read: 'Rassla Foundation, Zurich, Dr Giancarlo Ligabue (1931 -2015).'

Brought to you by

Claudio Corsi
Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

Lot Essay

Horses of this type, standing on either openwork integral plinths or plinths with a zig-zag pattern, were votive offerings in the Geometric Period and are widespread throughout the Greek world. The style of this horse is closely related with the Argive group, which is mainly represented through finds in Olympia and Tegea. For Greek bronze horse types cf. D. G. Mitten & S. F. Doeringer, Master Bronzes, Mainz on Rhine, 1967, nos. 17-21, and for a deer on a comparable plinth, the underside with intaglio design of chevrons and meander, attributed to the Argolid see no. 24.

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