Ancient Near East, Syro-Hittite, ca. 12th to 8th century BCE. An incredible, rare bronze belt with stamped motifs depicting a stag hunt. The belt is in two halves, representing two pieces that would have attached to either side of a buckle; they have been joined at a later date at their rounded ends, which were drilled through to allow attachment to the buckle. Stamped into the bronze are repeated images of a kneeling, bearded archer, scampering stags, and winged stags. The animals are all wonderfully posed, one glancing back over its shoulder, the others in various stages of flight from the hunter. Size: 25.5" L x 2.55" H (64.8 cm x 6.5 cm)

Hittite royalty had game enclosures reserved for hunting, and hunting imagery, specifically the stag hunt, was associated with rulership and religious ritual. For example, the Sphinx's Gate at Alaca Hoyuk (13th century BCE) and the Lion Gate at Malatya (early 10th century BCE) were both carved with large, monumental hunting scenes featuring the ruling elite, stags, and lions. Processions celebrating ritual hunts passed through these gates at different times of the year, including some where people paraded with standards bearing figures of stags and masked dancers reenacted hunting scenes in front of large audiences. This belt connects explicitly to that imagery and probably belonged to someone of high status, associated with the world of hunting not for subsistence, but instead to demonstrate their high social standing.

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121603

Small losses along edges, with one area of repair. Belt is in two halves that are held together using a modern fastener at the center. Artwork is very clear with almost no losses.