CIRCA 4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

TWO ETRUSCAN BRONZE CISTA FEET
Circa 4th Century B.C.
Each with a lion's paw surmounted by a siren above a volute, the monster with two pairs of wings, one raised and one lowered, holding a flute in one hand, an alabastron in the other, her wings, tail feathers and center-parted hair incised, rivets perforating the upper wings and projections on the reverse for attachment to the vessel
2½ in. (6.4 cm) high each (2)

Provenance

Fine Antiquities Auction, Superior Galleries, 12 March 1994, lot 190

Lot Essay

In Greek tradition, the Siren was thought to entice with both music and song. See for example a black-figured oinochoe in a New York private collection on which three Sirens play musical instruments, no. 38, p. 116 in Buitron, et al., The Odyssey and Ancient Art, An Epic in Word and Image.

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