Central Asia, Bactria, ca. 1000 BCE. A cast bronze ibex with long, thin legs and a stylized body, part of an attachment, perhaps from a chariot. The ibex stands proudly on a curved bar. His head is slightly turned, emphasizing his enormous curved horns. Ibexes are a fascinating element of Central Asian iconography. They suggest a cultural connection to the lands to their west, specifically to places like Luristan and the Kingdom of Elam, where the ibex seems to have been a sacred animal associated with fertility and virility. Whether or not the people of Central Asia were familiar with ibexes is unclear. There are ibexes in the region today, but they are not native to the area and we do not have a good idea of how far artisans might have traveled to observe them. The slightly abstract portrayal Size: 4.4" W x 4" H (11.2 cm x 10.2 cm); 4.25" H (10.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#133307

The figure is a fragment from a larger piece, with breaks at the top of the bar above the head and on either end of the bar that the animal is perched atop. The animal's body is full intact.