Bronze leg of a cauldron with horseman and bird

ca. 700–650 BCE

Not on view

Originally part of a set of three, this solid cast bronze leg in the form of a horse and rider would have supported a large bowl or basin used in lavish Etruscan gatherings. These vessels are common at Vetulonia, in Etruria, where this leg was likely manufactured, and continue a long tradition of bronze working in this metal-rich region. As symbols of wealth and status, the vessels were frequently buried with their owners, and perhaps allude to the funerary banquet.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Bronze leg of a cauldron with horseman and bird
Date: ca. 700–650 BCE
Culture: Italic, Villanovan
Medium: Bronze
Dimensions: H. 11 cm (4-3/8 in.) x W. 6.5 cm (2-5/8 in.)
Classification: Bronzes
Credit Line: Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020
Object Number: 2021.40.39
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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