1995.1124.A-C: Belt Segment (Three Pieces)

Identification and Creation

Object Number

1995.1124.A-C

Title

Belt Segment (Three Pieces)

Classification

Armor

Work Type

armor

Date

9th-8th century BCE

Places

Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Asia, Urartu

Period

Iron Age

Culture

Urartian

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/303731

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Bronze

Technique

Repoussé

Dimensions

1995.1124.A: 6.4 x 8.7 cm (2 1/2 x 3 7/16 in.)
1995.1124.B: 6.7 x 9.5 cm (2 5/8 x 3 3/4 in.)
1995.1124.C: 9.5 x 10.3 cm (3 3/4 x 4 1/16 in.)

Technical Details

Chemical Composition: 1995.1124.B
XRF data from Tracer
Alloy: Bronze
Alloying Elements: copper, tin
Other Elements: lead, iron
K. Eremin, January 2014

Technical Observations: The patina is predominantly green and brown on the obverse, while the back is orangish brown and black. The object is broken into three fragments with modern cuts on the edges. There are also stress cracks and losses. The belt was made from hammered sheet with the design work done by repoussé and chasing.


Carol Snow (submitted 2002)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History

Nelson Goodman, Weston, MA (by 1986), gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1995.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nelson Goodman

Accession Year

1995

Object Number

1995.1124.A-C

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Contact

am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu

Permissions

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Descriptions

Description

Belt segment in three pieces. Divided into registers, at least three preserved, perhaps a fourth. Incised are scenes of the lion hunt. Male figures on horseback ride after the lions. They wear conical crowns and brandish various weapons. All figures are stylized and have incised decoration. On the proper right fragment the riders (divided between two reigsters) brandishe swords and ride to the right. In the center fragment, the riders (also preserved in two registers) hold spears and ride to the left. The rider in the upper register chases two visible lions, one of which is divided between the central fragment and the left fragment. The rider in the lower register of the central fragment also chases two lions, but one of them is entirely on the left fragment. There are three registers of the left fragment. Each depicts a lion chased by the riders in the central fragment, who in turn, chases the riders at the far left of the fragment who draw their bows to fire to the left (presumably after lions of their own). Given the three registers in the left fragment and its join with the central fragment we can reconstruct at least three register for both. We then have a sequence in each register of rider with spear, lion, lion, rider with bow. The affect calls into question the hunter and the hunted, for the rider and the lion are each both.

Subjects and Contexts

• Ancient Bronzes

Verification Level