AN ACHAEMENID RHYTON HEADPIECE FORM OF A ROARING... Lot n° 26

In form of a roaring lion made from "Egyptian blue" with semicircular eyes and stippled brows, the mouth open with the teeth bared, the whiskers incised and the fur on the nose indicated, an incised whorl at each brow, the ears folded back behind the radiating mane that forms a widow's peak on the forehead. Size: 7.2 cm. length, 7.6 cm. width, 6.4 cm. height. Weight: 335 Grams. CONDITION In good condition considering the age. PROVENANCE Lions symbolized majesty, courage, and strength in ancient Persia. We find them in later periods as part of the Iranian emblem coupled with the sign of Sun forming the Lion & Sun configuration which goes back to the old Near Eastern tradition and astrology « The House of Leo » . Achaemenid objects are excessively rare and this is a very fine example of this art which makes it even more exceptional and desirable, because of its very fine and delicate workmanship, it could be attributed to the late 6th to early 5th century B.C. Period of Achaemenid Dynasty. There is a similar object in public institution namely a Rhyton fragment in Louvre Museum, Paris (Collection Clot Bey, E 931). PROVENANCE Ex collection of Dr. Rudi Weber, Breda (NL) since 1961. Acquired from above by J. Roelofs Antiquaris in Amsterdam in 1971. Current private collection purchased from the above in 18th May 2020. Exhibited: Tefaf fine art fair, Maastricht in 1997. Exhibited: Pan Amsterdam antique fair in 1998.