In the 1st Millennium B.C. many nomadic tribes inhabited the steppes and mountainous areas of Eurasia. By the middle of the 1st Millennium B.C., they had come to be called collectively SAKA in the inscriptions of the Achaemenids (559-330 B.C.) and SKYTHAI (SCYTHIANS) by Greeks, who first encountered these tribes in VII century B.C. in Asia Minor. The ethnic variety of the Scythian world makes it extremely hard to determine which of the historically known tribes are represented in the particular object of the material culture. Constant migrations, military campaigns and raids resulted in the borrowing and mutual exchange of the cultural traditions in reflecting the world through art.
249
BRONZE BUCKLE
V c. B.C.
The cast convex, openwork buckle depicts head of a bull frontally with his horns, terminated with stylized griffin heads, inscribed in buckle frame; above there are two mirror images of stylized griffin-heads. Two loops on the frame of the buckle, one of them broken in half. L. 2.8" (7cm), W. 1.9" (4.8 cm).
SOLD
242
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized stag-head protome. H. 1.3" (3.3 cm), W. 1.5" (3.7 cm).
For similar iconography see: B. Piotrovsky. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. # 93.
SOLD
997
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V c. B.C.
Cast high-tinned bronze. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized bird of prey head with large round eyes and curved beak. There is a hole in the center where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 1.2" (3.1 cm).
SOLD
990
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V-IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized griffin-head protome with large round eyes, curved beak and erect ears. Broken (ancient times) in the center where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 1.1" (2.7 cm).
$ 125
996
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized falcon-head protome with large round eyes and small curved beak. There is a hole in the center where the leather bridle strap passed through. H. 1" (2.6 cm).
$ 275
999
Scythian bronze bridle ornament
V c. B.C. SOLD
972
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized bird of prey-head protome with large round eyes and open beak, exposing the tongue, capturing the image of the bird just prior to attack. There is a hole in the center where the leather bridle strap passed through. H. 1.7" (4.4 cm).
SOLD
974
SCYTHIAN LEAD BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V c. B.C.
Cast lead. Part of a horse’s bridle nosepiece, ornament made with a stylized griffin-head protome with large round eyes, curved beak and erect ears. There is a hole in the center where the leather bridle strap passed through. H. 1.6" (4.1 cm).
$ 275
407
SAUROMATIAN BRONZE
VI-V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a wolf's head in profile, with mouth open and teeth bared. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 0.8" (2.1 cm).
SOLD
986
SAUROMATIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI-V c. B.C.
Cast high-tinned bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of predator's head front with two oval eyes and open mouth exposing teeth. There is a bronze loop on the back where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 0.6" (1.5 cm)
See: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 109, fig.12.
$ 225
985
SAUROMATIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a recumbent hoofed animal with head reversed over its back. There is a bronze loop on the back where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 0.8" (2.1 cm).
See: B. Piotrovsky. Scythian Art. Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1986, cat. # 93..
SOLD
998
SAUROMATIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI-V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a griffin's head in left profile, with large round eyes and curved beak with nostril. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 0.9" (2.3 cm).
See: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 109, fig.12.
SOLD
988
SAUROMATIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI-V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a griffin's head in left profile, with large round eyes and curved beak with nostril. There is a bronze loop on the back where the leather bridle strap passed through. Heavily worn. L. 1" (2.5 cm).
Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 109, fig.12.
SOLD
976
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI-V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a griffin's head in left profile, with large round eyes, small erect ear and slightly open curved beak. There is a bronze loop on the back where the leather bridle strap passed through.
Heavily worn. L. 1.1" (2.7 cm).
SOLD
982
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting two images of a griffin's head in profile, with round eyes and massive curved beak. The interlocking composition achieved by rotating one image 180 degrees. There is a bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. D. 1" (2.5 cm).
SOLD
962
SCYTHIAN BRONZE ORNAMENT
IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Depicting two images: griffin's head in left profile, with round eyes, curved beak and exposed tongue; next to it is an image of a horse leg, folded as in a gallop, with exaggeratedly large hoof. Lower part of a composition is missing. Ancient loss. L. 2.1" (5.3 cm).
$ 175
969
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
IV century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting two mirror images of a ram's head in profile, with almond-shaped eyes, tightly wound spiral horns and small ears. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. 1.1"x 1.3" (2.7 x 3.4 cm).
$ 325
992
SARMATIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
IV-III century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Convex shield with an image of a running dog in relief. Mouth open, ears erect. There is a bronze loop on the back with ends riveted to the shield. D. 1" (2.5 cm).
$ 275
994
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI-V century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a curled up feline left profile. Tail meets open mouth, paws are bent inward. There is a bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 1.1" (2.7 cm).
See: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 115, fig.29.B. Piotrovsky. Scythian Art. Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1986, cat. # 92.
$ 250
406
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting stylized front mask of fantastic predator with highly stylized features. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 1.1" (2.7 cm).
$ 350
246
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V century B.C.
Bridle ornament cast in low relief with loop on the reverse. Made in the form of stylized elk’s head in left profile. His mouth is wide open, ear depicted by spiral, his antlers are terminated with a stylized griffin heads. 45 x 32 mm.
$ 450
1000
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting an image of a stylized elk’s head in left profile with large round eyes, small erect ear and open mouth. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. L. 1.3" (3.2 cm).
For a similar ornament see: The Golden Deer of Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2000, cat. 155.
SOLD
243
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V century B.C.
Part of a horse’s trapping, the buckle is cast in the form of a stylized elk’s head in left profile. Broken loop at the reverse. 29 mm.
For a similar ornament see: The Golden Deer of Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2000, cat. 155.
SOLD
408
BRONZE HARNESS RING
VII century B.C.
Cast bronze. In the form of barrel-shaped bead with defined ring-shaped collars. At the bottom there is the lower part of a horse's leg with a hoof in stride.
Ancients believed that capturing particular parts of animals added these same qualities to the wearer (in this case speed in running ). H. 1.3" (3.4 cm).
$ 475
965
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
VI c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle (cheekpiece). Depicting stylized animal's front legs. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. Mended. H. 2.8" (7.2 cm).
See: B. Piotrovsky. Scythian Art. Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1986, cat. # 277..
SOLD
964
SCYTHIAN BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V-IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle (cheekpiece). Depicting stylized animal's hindquarters. There is a broken off bronze loop on the back, where the leather bridle strap passed through. Mended. H. 3.5" (8.9 cm).
See: B. Piotrovsky. Scythian Art. Aurora Art Publishers, Leningrad, 1986,
cat. # 278; Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 49, fig.47.
SOLD
975
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENTS
FIRST HALF OF IV c. B.C.
Cast bronze. Pair of cheekpieces of a horse bridle, depicting stylized animal legs right. Each has a bronze loop on the back of the upper part, where the leather bridle strap passed through. H. 1.4" (3.6 cm).
SOLD
973
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle. Depicting stylized predator paw, with prominent knuckles on four toes and detailed cartilage. There is a bronze loop on the back of the upper part, where the leather bridle strap passed through.
Toe has been broken and mended. H. 1.8" (4.6 cm).
$ 350
971
BRONZE BRIDLE ORNAMENT
V century B.C.
Cast bronze. Part of a horse bridle (cheekpiece). Depicting stylized animal paw, with prominent knuckles on five toes. There is a bronze loop on the back of the upper part, where the leather bridle strap passed through. H. 1.9" (4.8 cm).
$ 350
1086
BONE PLAQUE
VI-IV centuries B. C.
Convex rectangular plaque. Carved with image of a dove enclosed in raised border. Tail, wing and neck feathers indicated by depressed lines. Hole for attachment at each corner. Used as an inlay for caskets.
L. 1.4" (3.6 cm)
$ 2000
1087
BONE PLAQUE
VI-IV centuries B. C.
Triangular plaque. Carved with image of a rooster enclosed in a raised circle. Tail, wing, neck feathers, comb and wattle indicated by depressed lines. Hole for attachment at top corner. H. 1.5" (3.9 cm).
$ 2000