Dress Ornament
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
The Achaemenid rulers of ancient Persia favored images of lions with their mouths open in a snarl or roar. On these gold jewelry
elements, the lions are shown complete or as heads only, in both fairly realistic and highly decorative forms. The gold head of a bull, another dangerous animal, seems almost placid in comparison. The pin decorated with an ibex, or wild mountain goat, was used to fasten garments.
MEDIUM
Gold
DATES
6th–5th century B.C.E.
PERIOD
Probably Modern, after Achaemenid Period
ACCESSION NUMBER
70.142.11
CREDIT LINE
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin
PROVENANCE
Archaeological provenance not yet documented, probably from Ecbatana, Persia (now Iran); before 1964, acquired by Khalil Rabenou of New York, NY; before October 17, 1964, purchased from Khalil Rabenou by Alastair Bradley Martin of Glen Head, NY; December 15, 1970, gift of Alastair Bradley and Edith Park Martin to the Brooklyn Museum.
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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Snarling lion in profile, looking to the left. Modeled in low repoussé in sheet gold. The stylized mane represented by openwork rays cut from the single sheet from which the entire piece is made.
Condition: Excellent
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Achaemenid. Dress Ornament, 6th–5th century B.C.E. Gold, 1 13/16 × 2 5/16 in. (4.6 × 5.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Alastair Bradley Martin, 70.142.11. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 70.142.6-.11_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE
70.142.6-.11_PS2.jpg.
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