< Previous4A BELT FITTING WITH MYTHICAL CREATURES L. 12.8 cm. Bronze. Scythian, Ordos Culture, 4th–2nd cent. B.C. CHF 2,200 Two antithetical mythical creatures resembling ibexes dominate the scene on this rectangular openwork belt fitting. Their hindquarters touch each other and their twisted tails end in small billy goat’s heads. They touch the corded frame with their forelegs. Reverse slightly concave. Cracks at the top of the frame, on the right buck’s neck and on the foreleg of the mythical creature on the left. Priv. coll. Oliver Vit, Basel, collecting period 2000–2019, acquired from Adam Antiquities, 20.9.2009. For the shape of the belt fitting, the decorative motifs and the form of the mythical animals, cf. two plaques from the Ordos Culture in the British Museum, London, inv. nos. 1950,1116.12 and 1950,1116.3 (both online).5A STATUETTE OF A ZEBU L. 6.6 cm. Bronze, solid cast. Amlash, 9th–8th cent. B.C. CHF 1,600 The spool-shaped body of the zebu is accentuated by a large hump above the shoulders. An eyelet at the back of the hump. The tail is attached to the flattened hindquarters. Small head with pointed muzzle and curved horns. A hole between the hind legs indicates that it was probably affixed to a standard. Left horn tip reattached; otherwise intact. Formerly priv. coll. Dr. H. Winkler, Germany, prior to 1970. Thereafter priv. coll. Dr. Frank Hiero- nymus (1930–2022), Basel, acquired from Cahn Auktionen AG, Basel, Auction 1, 22.9.2006, lot 32. For the style, cf. a slightly smaller zebu formerly in the coll. Borowski: Arts de l’ancien Iran, Musée Borely Marseille (Marseille 1975) 62, no. 181 with illus.6A PART OF A BRIDLE WITH A PAIR OF PANTHERS H. max. 6.9 cm. Bronze, solid cast. Northern Greek or Pontic, 6th–5th cent. B.C. CHF 1,200 A pair of stylised, antithetical panther’s heads with small, semicircular ears and ring punches for the eyes adorn this openwork, buckle-shaped element from a horse’s bridle or curb. Identical, finely hatched, engraved decorative bands accentuate the contours of the head and neck on both sides. Left ear slightly worn; the surface on the opposite side somewhat corroded; other wise intact. Accompanied by two undecorated bridle pieces (not illustrated). It is uncertain whether they belong. Formerly Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s.7A BRONZE PIN WITH THE MISTRESS OF ANIMALS L. 32.9 cm. W. 6.4 cm. Bronze. Luristan, 10th–9th cent. B.C. CHF 4,800 In the centre of the openwork pin head, the stylised Mistress of the Animals with horns and large, openwork ears stands on a panther’s head. Her body is flanked by spirals. She grasps the necks of two antithetical panther heads with her outstretched arms. The reverse is parti- ally concave and the long, pointed pin is smooth. Intact. Formerly priv. coll. F. M., Brussels-Ixelles, Belgium, formed by the collector’s parents, mid to late 20th century. The Master of Animals and its numerous variants belonged to the most popular motifs in Luristan’s bronze art. Cf. G. Zahlhaas, Gisela, Luristan. Antike Bronzen aus dem Iran (Munich 2002) 70 f., cat. nos. 141–143 with illus.8A BIRD RATTLE H. 4.8 cm. Fired clay. Light brown coating. Eastern Central Europe, Bronze to Iron Age Lusatian Culture, ca. 1300–500 B.C. CHF 1,200 A rattle in the shape of a stylised bird with stubby wings and a small tail on a round foot. A finely pierced dot on the flat head probably indicates the eye. The hollow body contains small stones or clay beads. Intact. It may be assumed that bird rattles served as ritual devices. Bird-shaped sculptures are typical of the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age in Central Europe. Formerly coll. Dr. Siegfried Zimmer, ca. 1950. Thereafter Athena Münzen & Kunst der Antike, Mu- nich, 2004. On zoomorphic rattles: M. Primas, Bronzezeit zwischen Elbe und Po. Strukturwandel in Zentraleu- ropa 2200–800 v. Chr. Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie 150 (Bonn 2008) 186–187. E. Wesely-Arents, Studien zu Chronologie und Besiedlung der Lausitzer Kultur in Sach- sen auf Grundlage des Gräberfeldes von Liebersee. Studien zur Lausitzerkultur III (Langenweissbach 2011) 91–95, esp. 91–92.Next >