Archaic Bronze Protome of a Griffin

Culture: Greek

Period: Late 7th century B.C.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 13 cm high

Price: 16 000 Euro

Ref: 2647

Provenance: US private collection, acquired on 8 August 2016. With a copy of the invoice. Prior in the German art market.

Condition: A small ancient missing part at the bottom of the mounting plate, otherwise very beautifully preserved.

Description: Magnificent, heavy bronze protome of a griffin dating to the Greek archaic period, which once served as a sculptural decoration on a large bronze cauldron. The primeval creature, which was considered as a vigilant guardian, has a bird of prey head with a beak wide open and a tongue curled upwards. The eyes look threatening and are slightly squinted with thick, far backwards reaching lids. The deeply perforated pupil was inlayed with a gemstone. The pointy, horn-like ears are straight up and underline the vigilance of the griffin. On the forehead sits a long-stemmed knob in form of a blossom. The head itself rises from a strong, curved bird’s neck. Below a disc-shaped, pierced plate for mounting on the bronze cauldron. The high-quality figure is abundantly decorated in cold work. On the sides of the head and on the back of the head fine engravings indicate the thick plumage. On both sides of the neck run hatched bands, which each ends in a volute. Protomes of griffins such as the present one were found in Greece only in sanctuaries, by far most in the Heraion in Samos. But they are also known from Olympia, Athens, Argos and Etruria. See for the type the protomes of griffins in the Antikensammlung der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin with the inventory number 32513, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with the object number 59.11.18, as well as at Christie’s auction London of 1 October 2014, lot 76. On a custom-made metal base.