Western Asia, Scythian culture, ca. mid 1st millennium BCE. An attractive, high-quality gold repousse applique depicting an avian form in profile with remarkable details - delineated plumage on the wings, tailfeathers, and neck - a curved beak and elegant eye. This bird appears to be perched, as if landing atop the arm of a falconer. The Scythians are famous for their goldwork, and rightly so; hoards of their treasures have been found throughout eastern and central Europe and western and central Asia. Scholars have posited that these hoards may represent gifts for foreign rulers, votive offerings, or treasures buried and forgotten. Other gold artifacts from this culture are found in their incredibly rich graves. According to Scythian tradition, warriors (both male and female) were buried alongside their servants and horses, with weapons, harnesses, and personal adornments in order to provide for them in the afterlife. Size: 0.9" W x 1.2" H (2.3 cm x 3 cm); 2.8" H (7.1 cm) on included custom stand; gold quality: 92.45% (equivalent to over 22 karats); weight: 1.7 grams

Provenance: private Scottsdale, Arizona, USA collection, acquired from Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, from 2005 to 2018

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#181233

Some light bending, but otherwise intact and superb with nicely preserved detail and form. Five suspension loops on verso for easy wear.