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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1992.256.41
Title
Dog
Classification
Sculpture
Work Type
sculpture, statuette
Date
10th-first half 7th century BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Asia, Iran
Period
Iron Age II-III
Culture
Iranian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/310316

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Bronze
Technique
Cast, lost-wax process
Dimensions
2.3 x 1.3 x 3.5 cm (7/8 x 1/2 x 1 3/8 in.)
Technical Details

Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Bronze:
Cu, 91.85; Sn, 7.16; Pb, 0.61; Zn, 0.092; Fe, 0.05; Ni, 0.05; Ag, 0.05; Sb, 0.13; As, less than 0.10; Bi, less than 0.025; Co, 0.015; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001
J. Riederer

Technical Observations: The patina is a mottled cuprite red, green, and brown. The entire surface has been scraped, and there are large uneven areas filled with a tan waxy material. Some areas are markedly pitted, such as the face, paws, and hindquarters.

This piece is a solid lost-was cast made from a model formed directly in the wax. It has a very uneven surface, which has been disfigured by corrosion and cleaning during restoration. None of the original surface detail seems to have survived, and some of the underlying form is lost as well, for example, the proper right ear, part of the tail, and part of the snout.


Francesca G. Bewer (submitted 2012)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Louise M. and George E. Bates, Camden, ME (by 1971-1992), gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1992.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Louise M. and George E. Bates
Accession Year
1992
Object Number
1992.256.41
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
This dog figurine has a straight back and horizontally extended tail. Perhaps this seemingly focused stance represents the dog “at attention” or “pointing.” This interpretation would suggest its use as a watchdog or in the context of hunting. The right ear is broken, and the left may have some losses as well. No facial features are detailed, but the blunt muzzle is aimed forward, parallel to the line of the back and tail.

The long-domesticated dog served ancient cultures worldwide in hunting, warfare, security, and as a companion. Of the copper alloy pendants and figurines derived from Iran, examples in the form of dogs are abundant, although the corpus of excavated pieces is limited. Four dog figurines were found in a tomb at the site of Marlik in northwestern Iran, but these differ stylistically from the Harvard examples in their angular, elongated form and stiff stance (1). Dog figurines have been excavated from Iron Age III (800-750/700 BCE) contexts at the Luristan sanctuary site of Surkh-i Dum (2), which has been interpreted by excavators as having been a site dedicated to a female nature deity where hunters would have offered trinkets in hope or appreciation of success (3). In this context, canine figurines and pendants may represent hunting dogs. The Surkh-i Dum objects are close to the Harvard pieces stylistically, although those in the form of pendants are not pierced but have instead suspension loops. Despite this discrepancy in the method of suspension, which may have varied over time or from site to site, the available evidence favors the designation of the Harvard dog figurines as being from Luristan.

NOTES:

1. See E. O. Negahban, Marlik: The Complete Excavation Report, University Museum Monograph 87 (Philadelphia, 1996) 133, nos. 150 and 152, pl. 48.

2. See E. F. Schmidt, M. N. van Loon, and H. H. Curvers, The Holmes Expedition to Luristan (Chicago, 1989) 273-74, pls. 174 and 186-87

3. See Schmidt, van Loon, and Curvers 1989 (supra 2) 487-88.


Amy Gansell

Subjects and Contexts

  • Ancient Bronzes

Related Works

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu