Western Asia, Scythian culture, ca. 1st millennium BCE. A pair of hammered, ornamental 18K gold sheet appliques, probably from a scabbard, with tiny attachment holes around their edges. Decoration on the edge of each suggests a zoomorphic, possibly avian, form centered on a large eye, with a round perforation in the gold. These were part of an important Maeotic-Scythian hoard, purportedly found near the Black Sea. 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. These hoards may represent gifts to foreign rulers, votive offerings, or treasures long buried and forgotten. Size of one: 1.5" L (3.8 cm); total height 2.9" H (7.4 cm) on included custom stand; 14.7 grams total weight

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; Taisei Gallery Collection auction, November 1992, New York, USA - part of Lot #167

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#129643

Bending to form as shown. Slight wear / loss along edges.