This is the rating and price for Achaemenid Silver Bull Head Finial - 234.6 Grams

Description : Ancient Near East, Achaemenid, 1st millennium BCE. A magnificent and quite hefty cast solid silver (82% silver) bull head finial, the bovine's visage presented facing forward with large circular eyes - the recesses of which appear to have been gilded or inlaid with gold - a pronounced snout with flaring nostrils that may have contained inlays as well, small ears jutting outward with small recesses that also may have contained inlays, and curved horns pointed toward one another above. The bovine's body is handsomely adorned by incised inverted chevron motifs on the front and back - and slightly arched striations on the sides. Ancient Greek writers described the Persians' impressive use of precious metals as a splendiferous display of wealth. To quote Herodotus when speaking of Xerxes' troops, they were adorned with the greatest magnificence …. They glittered all over with gold, vast quantities of which they wore about their persons. (Vii. 83). Size: 2.375 H (6 cm), 3.125 H (7.9 cm) on included custom stand. Weight: 234.6 grams (just over a half pound!) Visual culture featuring the bull abounded during the Achaemenid Period. In fact, the ceremonial capital of Persepolis built by Darius included capitals that were decorated with the heads of lions, griffins, and bulls carved in the round. The Achaemenid Persian Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BCE (including Iran, Mesopotamia, Syria, Egypt, Asia Minor, Central Asia, Caucasus, Thrace and some parts of India) is generally regarded as one of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. Its capital, Pasargadae, was Cyrus the Great's final resting place and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To demonstrate the Achaemenid Empire's love of gold, associates of Alexander the Great in accounts of a tomb in Pasargadae, described a golden sarcophagus, necklaces, and gold gemstone earrings. The tomb is located in Pasargadae, in the garden of a royal palace where an ensemble of artifacts known as the Pasargadae Treasure - including various articles of gold and silver, jewelry and gemstones - were found in a ceramic amphora. Follow this link for an example of a bull's head column capital from the Achaemenid period at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection, ex-Frances Artuner Collection, Belgium, acquired in the 1960s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #143618
Price: 2 732.78 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 3000 USD-5000 USD It's free to register now to view!

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