Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Griffin Attachment from a Cauldron
(Ancient Greece )
This intricately crafted protome (a decorative element representing the head and neck of a human or animal) is in the form of a griffin head and would have decorated the rim of a bronze cauldron. These objects were fashionable in the Mediterranean, and other protomes have been found scattered throughout sanctuaries and burials from Cyprus to Iberia. It is likely that this protome was created on the island of Samos, the center of production for this type of object. The griffin’s rounded head and body were detailed with scale-like markings and a striking curling lock. The protome, alongside its lost counterparts, would have appeared to be guarding the contents of the cauldron from which they protruded.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Robert E. Hecht, Jr. [dealer], 1999; Walters Art Museum, 1999, by purchase.
Geographies
Greece, Samos (?) (Place of Origin)
Measurements
5 7/8 x 1 15/16 x 2 3/16 in. (14.9 x 4.9 x 5.6 cm)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds provided by the Ancient Art Acquisition Fund, 1999
Location in Museum
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.2950