A Greek Shield Device
The emblem is in the form of a lion holding a spearhead in his right paw and biting into the blade. The whole bronze surface of the lion is decorated with naturalistic representations of muscles, veins and coat by the cold working techniques of punching and engraving. Hinges around the outline of the object suggest a removable fastening onto a shield or banner in ancient times. The size of the emblem suggests that it was fastened onto a round support. The quality of this piece suggests that it is the work of a craftsman from one of the kingdoms North of ancient Greece. Greek, probably from the Black Sea area or Macedonia.
Provenance
Publications
- , "Graeco-Italic Militaria", Mougins Museum of Classical Art, France
- , "J. Paul Getty Conservation Institute", Toward the Derveni Krater: On the Rarity of Large Bronze Vessels of the Archaic and Classical Periods Bearing Large Figural Registers, XIXth International Congress on Ancient Bronzes, Los Angeles
- , "Hoplite, le premier guerrier de l'histoire", Antiquité, le magazine de l'Antiquité Européenne. Hors-série, France
- , Hoplite, le premier guerrier de l'histoire, France
- , Chasseurs & Gladiateurs : L'épopée des héros de l'arène
- , "From 4th-Century Greek Vases to Female Abstract Expressionism", Larry's List
Exhibitions
- Musée d'Art Classique de Mougins (MACM), Mougins, France, from June 2011
N.B. Our online collection is being continually updated thanks to ongoing research and documentation efforts carried out by the MACM documentation team. Any additional information is welcome, please contact us.