1990.57: Ibex with Finial
SculptureIdentification and Creation
- Object Number
- 1990.57
- Title
- Ibex with Finial
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Work Type
- sculpture
- Date
- 7th-mid 6th century BCE
- Places
- Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Asia, Iran
- Period
- Iron Age
- Culture
- Iranian
- Persistent Link
- https://hvrd.art/o/303774
Physical Descriptions
- Medium
- Leaded bronze and iron
- Technique
- Cast, lost-wax process
- Dimensions
- 18 x 3.6 cm (7 1/16 x 1 7/16 in.)
- Technical Details
-
Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Leaded Bronze:
Cu, 88.25; Sn, 7.06; Pb, 3.89; Zn, 0.092; Fe, 0.08; Ni, 0.03; Ag, 0.07; Sb, 0.3; As, 0.21; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.013; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. RiedererTechnical Observations: The iron rod has a smooth black patina with some orange-brown oxides in the low areas along most of its length. At the barrel-shaped element on the goat’s back, it becomes more corroded, perhaps due to preferential corrosion of the less noble metal. The bronze goat is heavily corroded and has green, red, black, and brown corrosion products and encrustations. The lower end of the iron rod is broken off. The goat is missing its proper right ear. A bronze chain that is connected to the animal’s proper left ear is very corroded—it may be completely mineralized—and it is difficult to discern its original function. It may have also been connected to the proper right ear at its other end.
The iron rod was cast, and traces of two seam lines are still visible in areas along the sides. It was further worked to refine the turned lines, leaving tool marks on the surface. The goat was cast solid with a hole to accommodate the iron rod. The barrel-shaped bronze element was made separately, probably by casting. The surfaces of the bronze are too corroded to provide information about designs or details. The chain was made from hammered wire, its heavily worked structure being more susceptible to corrosion.
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)
Provenance
- Recorded Ownership History
-
Joseph Ternbach, Forest Hills, NY, (by 1982). [Royal Athena Gallery, New York, (1989-1890)] and Sol Rabin, Beverly Hills, CA (1989-1990), gift; to The Harvard University Art Museums.
Acquisition and Rights
- Credit Line
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Dr. Jerome M. Eisenberg and Sol Rabin
- Accession Year
- 1990
- Object Number
- 1990.57
- Division
- Asian and Mediterranean Art
- Contact
- am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
- Permissions
-
The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.
Subjects and Contexts
- Ancient Bronzes
Verification Level
This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu