Lot 25
Ancient Italy, Etruscan, ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. A bronze vessel handle masterfully cast in the form of a nude reclining woman, her lithe figure posed in elegant repose. With her arms pressed beneath her torso and her legs extended behind, the figure seems to emerge from the vessel she once adorned, her tranquil expression and braided diadem evoking a serene, otherworldly grace. The stylized modeling of her limbs and sharply contoured hips are hallmarks of Etruscan bronze casting in the Archaic period, while incised details at the eyes, hair, and breasts animate the sculpture with understated vitality. Handles of this type were often affixed to large bronze cauldrons or urns used in funerary rites, particularly those serving as cremation containers. The choice of a reclining female nude may symbolize both the domestic intimacy of the vessel and the idealized transition from life to afterlife. Size: 4.8" L x 1.4" W x 2.1" H (12.2 cm x 3.6 cm x 5.3 cm)
The combination of functional craftsmanship and figural artistry reflects the Etruscans' sophisticated approach to metalwork and ritual design.
For a similar handle example, please see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number X.21.95.
For an example demonstrating how these handles were used, please see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 28.57.13.
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired via Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA in April 2019; ex-private East Coast, USA collection
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#195492
- Condition: Handle was once part of a larger bronze vessel. Missing proper right arm and left forearm or hand. Age-commensurate surface wear and abrasions, fading to some facial details, roughness and discoloration around areas separated from original vessel, with some discoloration, otherwise excellent. Light earthen deposits and nice green patina throughout.
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