**Originally Listed At $1500**

Ancient Greece, Cyprus, Iron Age, Cypro-Archaic Period I, Cypriot culture, ca. 750 to 600 BCE. Now that's a horse of a different color! A rare pottery sculpture of an unusual form featuring a rider atop a 2-headed horse, all delineated in an abstract style characteristic of the Cypro-Archaic period of Iron Age Cyprus; note how the sculptor captured the action in this piece as the bearded, bareback rider holds onto the necks of the horse with each hand. The horse, though seemingly stationary, presents an alert character with pointed ears, applied pellet wide eyes and curved tail. Liberal remains of black and red-painted geometric decoration adorns the surface. Riding horses, in warfare or for transport, was the privilege of an elite society at this time. The prevalence of such horse and rider figurines suggests a great amount of strife in Cyprus during the Iron Age Horse and rider figurines were particularly suited as offerings to a male divinity. A superb example of this iconic form of Cypriot visual culture! Size: 4.1" L x 2" W x 5.8" H (10.4 cm x 5.1 cm x 14.7 cm)

A similar Cypriot pottery rider atop a 2-headed horse can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 74.51.1767 and another 2-headed horse can also be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession number 74.51.1766.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: private West Hollywood, California, USA collection; ex-Lin Emery (1926-2021) collection, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, acquired prior to 2000

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A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#175553

Professionally repaired with break line visible and some light restoration in areas. Some small nicks and light abrasions, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with liberal remaining pigments. TL holes to the horse's back right hoof and the verso of the rider's right shoulder.