WESTERN ASIATIC SCYTHIAN GOLD FLYING BIRD APPLIQUE 6th century BC A repousse foil appliqué in the form of a bird with spread wings, pierced extensions to the tail, six attachment loops to the reverse. 1.58 grams, 31mm (1 1/4"). Very fine condition. Provenance Property of an important Mayfair, London, UK, gentleman, acquired 1980s. Literature See Reeder, E. Scythian Gold, New York, 1999, pages 119-124 for examples and reconstructed clothing with plaques. Footnotes The Scythians decorated a number of objects with gold plaques, such as clothing, belts, shoes, swords, horse ornamentation and wooden cups. The majority of the animals depicted are felines, birds of prey and stags and which seem to be associated with deities of the Scythian pantheon; the stag was sacred to the mother goddess. A number of rich graves have been excavated which have produced gold plaques and from their position around the bodies reconstructions of the clothes have been possible, and which show the dazzling display of personal adornment of these nomadic peoples.
WESTERN ASIATIC SCYTHIAN GOLD FLYING BIRD APPLIQUE 6th century BC A repousse foil appliqué in the form of a bird with spread wings, pierced extensions to the tail, six attachment loops to the reverse. 1.58 grams, 31mm (1 1/4"). Very fine condition. Provenance Property of an important Mayfair, London, UK, gentleman, acquired 1980s. Literature See Reeder, E. Scythian Gold, New York, 1999, pages 119-124 for examples and reconstructed clothing with plaques. Footnotes The Scythians decorated a number of objects with gold plaques, such as clothing, belts, shoes, swords, horse ornamentation and wooden cups. The majority of the animals depicted are felines, birds of prey and stags and which seem to be associated with deities of the Scythian pantheon; the stag was sacred to the mother goddess. A number of rich graves have been excavated which have produced gold plaques and from their position around the bodies reconstructions of the clothes have been possible, and which show the dazzling display of personal adornment of these nomadic peoples.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
