Greece, late Classical to Hellenistic period, ca. 4th to 3rd century CE. A very rare cast bronze spur in the style found at the sanctuary of Zeus at Dodona, with a short spearhead point and the arms curved back at the ends to provide grip for a strap. Each arm terminates in a stylized duck or goose head. Indeed, the Greeks may have invented the spur, although the date of when is lost to time. A 4th century red-figure vase shows an Amazon wearing one, while the statue of the Amazon at the Vatican, a copy of one by Phidias (lived ca. 480 to 430 BCE), has an attachment to which a spur was once fixed. Size: 3.55" W x 3.7" H (9 cm x 9.4 cm); 3.3" H (8.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#137688

Intact with dark patina on surface. Patina has been scraped away in two small places on the interior of the spur. Excellent preservation of form.