Scythian gold openwork plaque with battle scenes 4th C. BCE

"Formed of hammered sheet, preserving two battle scenes, to the left a fully-armed beardless warrior lunging to the right, a short sword drawn in his right hand, grabbing the head of a similarly-clad fallen archer before him, the archer on one knee, his left leg outstretched, supported on his right hand, holding his bow high in his left, his bearded head thrown back, to the right, a decapitated man lying at the foot of a tree, his arms outstretched above his neck, a sword and gorytus (bow case) suspended from the trunk, a Scythian warrior in characteristic belted coat, boots and long beard lunging to the right with a sword in his right hand, the severed head in his left; framed within a decorative border, dotted ovolo above, bosses below, wave on the right, interlocking bands of bosses between the scenes; several perforations throughout for attachment, likely originally to a leather or felt backing, perhaps a bow case. 12 3/8 in. (31.4 cm.) long.

Provenance: Said to have been found at Kurgan Zubov, near Anapa, on the east coast of the Black Sea. F.S. Romanovich, Novogrondok, prior to 1895. Adolphe Stoclet, Brussels, acquired in 1913. Madame Féron-Stoclet, Brussels."

-taken from Christies

Scythian gold openwork plaque with battle scenes 4th C. BCE.

Source/Quote:

https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5078920