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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1952.18
Title
Reclining Panther
Other Titles
Former Title: Small Crouching Lion
Classification
Sculpture
Work Type
statuette, sculpture
Date
mid 6th-5th century BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Etruria
Period
Archaic period to Classical
Culture
Etruscan
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/311070

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Leaded bronze
Technique
Cast, lost-wax process
Dimensions
2.2 x 5.1 cm (7/8 x 2 in.)
Technical Details

Chemical Composition: ICP-MS/AAA data from sample, Leaded Bronze:
Cu, 71.97; Sn, 8.98; Pb, 18.09; Zn, 0.185; Fe, 0.12; Ni, 0.1; Ag, 0.1; Sb, 0.17; As, 0.17; Bi, 0.041; Co, 0.079; Au, less than 0.01; Cd, less than 0.001

J. Riederer

Technical Observations: Both feline bronzes (1955.120 and 1952.18) are solid cast, but each has a deep depression at the bottom. The wax models used to make them appear to have been poured into molds that were largely open at the bottom. Some excess wax was poured out, leading to the deep depressions but not a fully hollow cast. Although most of the tail of 1952.18 is lost, the tip is preserved under the back legs in an area that would never have been seen. It could not have been cast in this position in the wax model and was probably shaped separately and attached to the wax cast.

The bottom of 1952.18 was cast to fit neatly over a long, straight cylindrical shape, whereas 1955.120 is curved in its long direction, and it appears the wax was trimmed so it would sit better on a flat surface. 1955.120 also has iron corrosion products on the lower surfaces that may relate to an iron attachment pin, which is partially intact on the loop in the tail. Another pin may lie between the front feet.

Although the surface detail is partially obscured, most of the finer surface relief appears to have been modeled directly in the wax. Details in the hair of 1955.120 are finer and less fluid and may have been cold worked in the bronze cast.

Deep mineralization on 1952.18 has led to chip losses at the feet and the loss of the tail. 1955.120 is less mineralized, but corrosion products obscure some surface details. The patina on each is green with spots of red. 1955.120 has rust stains in some areas.


Henry Lie (submitted 2002)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mrs. Edward Jackson Holmes
Accession Year
1952
Object Number
1952.18
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
This panther has the look of a kitten rather than that of a deadly predator. The main features that identify it as a panther are a dramatically convex back that puts the haunches higher than the head, a raised-head stance with mouth slightly open, paws that are placed together with wide grooves denoting claws, a snubbed nose, no ruff or mane, and small ears flattened against the head. Like 1955.120, it appears the panther was designed to decorate a flat surface. However, the piece comes with an enigmatic feature: its tail, which has been broken off, originally continued beneath the figure to a finished point. The reason for this is perplexing, as this carefully rendered detail would not have been visible once the panther was fixed to a surface. Such an enigma begs an unanswerable question: Was this an example of fastidious craftsmanship or a clue to the piece’s originally intended function?

Exact parallels for 1955.120 and 1952.18 have been difficult to find, making it challenging to place the pieces chronologically.

NOTES:

1. Compare A. Kozloff, ed., Animals in Ancient Art from the Leo Mildenberg Collection (Bloomington, 1981) nos. 120 and 667.


Aimée F. Scorziello

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