Reproduction of a Scythian plaque with animal combat
Electrotyping is a chemical process used historically to make high quality reproductions of works of art. During the Victorian era, one of the main producers was Elkington & Co. of Birmingham. They were licensed by the South Kensington Museum of London (now the Victoria & Albert Museum) to produce replicas of objects from the royal treasuries and museums in Europe. The electrotypes approved by the Department of Science & Art, a British governmental agency, carry Messrs. Elkington’s mark in the form of an official stamp in metal.
This modern electrotype is a copy of a gold plaque in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The original was part of the Siberian collection of Peter the Great of Russia (r. 1682-1725), who commissioned the first Russian archaeological excavations. The Siberian Collection of Peter the Great contains gold artefacts from the Scythian and Sarmatian nomadic cultures of Eurasia. This ornament corresponds to the left side of a pair of symmetrical belt buckles depicting a combat between a tiger and a horned monster. The complex representation of the fantastic beast is characteristic of later “animal style” art in which animal contests are one of the most popular motifs.
In the nineteenth century, many museums collected copies of ancient and historical works of art with the aim of presenting outstanding works to a broader public and to serve as inspiration for artists and manufacturers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, founded in 1870, began to acquire electrotypes in its first decade. In 1883, Henry Marquand, a collector and early patron of the Museum, funded a large purchase from Elkington & Co. of nearly three hundred pieces. Today, these works are part of many departments in the Museum and along with plaster casts reflect the history of collecting and the role of the museum as a locus for the teaching of art history.
This modern electrotype is a copy of a gold plaque in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The original was part of the Siberian collection of Peter the Great of Russia (r. 1682-1725), who commissioned the first Russian archaeological excavations. The Siberian Collection of Peter the Great contains gold artefacts from the Scythian and Sarmatian nomadic cultures of Eurasia. This ornament corresponds to the left side of a pair of symmetrical belt buckles depicting a combat between a tiger and a horned monster. The complex representation of the fantastic beast is characteristic of later “animal style” art in which animal contests are one of the most popular motifs.
In the nineteenth century, many museums collected copies of ancient and historical works of art with the aim of presenting outstanding works to a broader public and to serve as inspiration for artists and manufacturers. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, founded in 1870, began to acquire electrotypes in its first decade. In 1883, Henry Marquand, a collector and early patron of the Museum, funded a large purchase from Elkington & Co. of nearly three hundred pieces. Today, these works are part of many departments in the Museum and along with plaster casts reflect the history of collecting and the role of the museum as a locus for the teaching of art history.
Artwork Details
- Title: Reproduction of a Scythian plaque with animal combat
- Date: 19th century, after 4th–3rd century BCE original
- Medium: Electrotype
- Dimensions: 4 × 6 7/8 × 11/16 in. (10.2 × 17.4 × 1.7 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1883
- Object Number: 83.18.128
- Curatorial Department: Ancient West Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
ca. 4th century BCE
Achaemenid
ca. 6th–4th century BCE
Assyrian
ca. 9th–8th century BCE
Assyrian
ca. 8th century BCE
Iran
ca. 7th–6th century BCE
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.