CIRCA 8TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A URARTIAN BRONZE QUIVER
CIRCA 8TH CENTURY B.C.
Of open-ended tear-drop shape, the leather back now missing, two suspension loops at top and bottom, decorated in repoussé and incision with six figurative bands, from top to bottom; the upper band with a central winged bearded deity approached on both sides by three male figures, the first figure perhaps representing a king, the attendant behind carrying a sunshade; the second with war chariot and five horsemen all riding to the left, two fallen enemy and a decapitated head beneath; the third band with two war chariots and two horsemen riding to the left, a falling enemy in front with arrows piercing his back, fallen enemy and a bow beneath; the fourth band with war chariot and three horsemen riding to left, a warrior on foot, fallen enemies, quiver and decapitated head beneath; the fifth band with six horsemen riding to left, quiver, bow, decapitated head and fallen enemy beneath; the lower band with two war chariots and two horsemen riding to left, decapitated head and fallen enemy beneath, 12 narrow bands of lotus bud chain between, a four line cuneiform inscription between the top bands reading 'Haldi...Ishpu'ini, son of Sarduri...'
26½ in. (67.3) cm. long

Provenance

Surena collection, London, late 1970s-early 1980s.

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Lot Essay

Surduri I was king from 834-828 B.C., succeeded by his son Ishpuini, who ruled from 828 to 810 B.C.. Haldi was the Urartian war god whose main temple was at Musasir, a city conquered by Ishpuini and made the religious centre of the Urartian empire.

Urartian quivers are exceedingly rare, most examples being found with iron arrows still inside causing corrosion of the bronze. The above example is unusual for its high quality decoration and condition. The part of the quiver that came into contact with the shoulder or back of the warrior was made of leather and the method of carrying them across the shoulder is well illustrated on Assyrian reliefs. For a full discussion on quivers from excavations at Karmir Blur, cf. B. Piotrovskii, Urartu: the Kingdom of Van and its Art, London, 1967, p. 47.

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