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 c. 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.
150
SCYTHIAN GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque hammered over a matrix. Half circle composition includes stylized interlocking: profile right bull head with eye, nostril, horns depicted by spirals; moose head in left profile placed over bull?s neck, his long ear touched by back paws, and tail is terminated with a stylized griffin head. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 31 x 42 mm. Broken in half and glued with support from the back.
For a similar plaque see: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg. 49; Christie's NY, Antiquities, 12/08/1999, lot #19.
SOLD
145
FIVE GOLD PLAQUES
VII c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque hammered over a matrix, depicting curled up feline with head turned left. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. D. 15 mm.
Christie's of New York Antiquities Auction, 8 June 2001, lot 326.
For a similar feline plaques see : The Golden Deer of Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2000, cat. 172; Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 92; Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 47, 214.
SOLD
146
GOLD PLAQUE
VII c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque hammered over a matrix, depicting curled up feline with head turned left. Nostril, ear and tail indicated by round depressions. Holes are pierced around the perimeter.
D. 20 mm.
Christie's of New York Antiquities Auction, 8 June 2001, lot 326.
For a similar feline plaque see: The Golden Deer of Eurasia. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University Press, 2000, cat. 172; Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 92; Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 47, 214.
SOLD
458
Gold plaque
IV c. B.C. SOLD
215
GOLD PLAQUE
IV c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a walking stag in right profile. The shoulder ornamented with spiral. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 19 x 23 mm.
SOLD
527
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent hoofed animal with head reversed over its back. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 17 x 20 mm.
For a similar plaque see: Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 78; Art Treasures of Ancient Kuban. Catalogue of Exhibition. Moscow, 1987, pg. 87; Tolochko P.P. The Gold of the Steppes. Kiev, 1991, pg. 69.
SOLD
528
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent stag with head reversed over its back and antlers spread apart. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 21 x 22 mm.
For a similar stag plaque see: Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 90, 98; Anfimov N. A. The Kuban's ancient gold. Krasnodar, 1987, pg. 116; Tolochko P.P. The Gold of the Steppes. Kiev, 1991, pg. 69.
SOLD
151
TWO GOLD PLAQUES
IV c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent stag in right profile. The proportions of the body are realistic, while the antlers are deliberately exaggerated. Emphasis is given to the shoulder blades and hips. Holes are pierced around the perimeter.
23 x 26 mm.
For a similar plaque see: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 49; Tolochko P.P. The Gold of the Steppes. Kiev, 1991, pg. 69.
SOLD
217
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent elk with head reversed over its back. The antlers are terminated with a stylized griffin head. Holes are pierced around the perimeter.
19 x 20 mm.
For a similar plaque see: Art Treasures of Ancient Kuban. Catalogue of Exhibition. Moscow, 1987, pg. 110.
SOLD
221
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent hoofed animal with head reversed over its back. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. Fragmental ear. 17 x 18 mm.
For a similar plaque see: Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 78; Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 48; Art Treasures of Ancient Kuban. Catalogue of Exhibition. Moscow, 1987, pg. 87; Tolochko P.P. The Gold of the Steppes. Kiev, 1991, pg. 69.
SOLD
220
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent hoofed animal with head reversed over its back. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 17 x 19 mm.
For a similar plaque see: Davis-Kimbal J. Nomads of the Eurasian steppes in the Early Iron Age, Zinat Press, CA, 1995, pg 48; Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 21; Art Treasures of Ancient Kuban. Catalogue of Exhibition. Moscow, 1987, pg. 87; Tolochko P.P. The Gold of the Steppes. Kiev, 1991, pg. 69.
SOLD
244
Griffin-head gold plaques
V century B.C.
A typical butterfly iron guard decorated with two opposed stylized griffin-head gold plaques. The sheet-gold plaques, hammered over a matrix, have two holes for attachment with bronze pins or rivets, indicated by remains of copper oxidation products.
W. 3" (7.6 cm), L. 1.7" (4.3 cm)..
$ 850
222
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a recumbent stag with head reversed over its back and antlers spread apart. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. Fragmental left part of antlers. 18 x 22 mm.
For a similar stag plaque see: Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 90, 98;
SOLD
533
GOLD PLAQUE
V cent. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque hammered over a matrix is in the form of a flying eagle. The wings and tail are decorated with rows of feathers. Sharp-clawed paws tucked under belly. The eagle?s head is missing. Holes are pierced around the perimeter. 20 x 21 mm.
For similar iconography see: Piotrovsky B. Scythian Art. Phaidon, Oxford, 1987, cat. 71.
SOLD
231
GOLD PLAQUE
V c. B.C.
The sheet-gold plaque, hammered over a matrix, in the form of a face or mask that appears to be combined with a hand or paw. Two holes (at top and bottom) for attachment. 25 mm.
For similar iconography see: Liberov P.D. Objects from Scythian period in the mid-Don, SAI, v. D1-311, 1965, ???. 2: 74; Kiev Museum of Historical Treasures. Mistetstvo, Kiev, 1974, cat. # 12.
SOLD