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A Sardinian Figure of a Warrior

About the Item

An exceptionally rare and important Sardinian bronze figure of a warrior. The highly stylized figure is depicted standing, holding a club resting on his shoulder in the right hand and a round shield with central boss in the left. The warrior wears leggings under a short kilt, a cuirass, ringed neck-guard, and crested helmet with fragmentary horns. The statue was produced in the Nouragian (from ‘nuraghe’, the type of ancient Bronze Age building found across the island), or Geometric, period of Sardinian art. This is one of very few of its type outside Sardinia. Different types of Nuragic statuettes depicting human figures have been identified: the ‘tribal leaders’, the shepherds, the warriors, the archers, the worshipper(s), groups (mother and child, wrestlers, etc.). These are recognised as representing the higher classes of a hierarchical social structure – those with religious, political or militaristic responsibilities. This figure is of the warrior type. The statuette likely had a votive function; many similar figures have been discovered in the famous Nuragic sacred wells of the island. Accompanied by a detailed condition report, inventory notes from the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and a chemical analysis report carried out by Arthur Beale in 1975 when he was Acting Chief Conservator of the Fogg Art Museum, in preparation for the inclusion of the bronze in a publication by Dr. Miriam S. Balmuth (‘Sardinian Bronzetti in American Museums’, Studi Sardi (1975-1977), Vol. 24). Exhibited Contemporary Art: Acquisitions 1962-1965, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 30 September – 30 October 1966. ¿Kid Stuff?, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 25 July – 6 September 1971. Kunst und Kultur Sardiniens: vom Neolithikum bis zum Ende d. Nuraghenzeit, Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe, 18 April -13 July 1980, then Museum für Vor- u. Frühgeschichte d. Staatlichen Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz Berlin in Berlin-Charlottenburg, 31 July – 14 September 1980. Published Art Quarterly, vol. 29. no. 1, 1966, p. 71. Contemporary Art: Acquisitions 1962-1965, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York, 30 September – 30 October 1966, pp. 28, 84. Stephen A. Nash, with Katy Kline, Charlotta Kotik, and Emese Wood, Painting and Sculpture from Antiquity to 1942, Albright-Knox Art Gallery, New York, 1969, p.73, illus. Charlotte B. Johnson, Color and Shape, A-KAG, 1971, illus., pp. 11-12. Kunst und Kultur Sardiniens: vom Neolithikum bis zum Ende d. Nuraghenzeit, Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe im Karlsruher Schloss vom 18. Apr.-13. Juli 1980, Museum für Vor- u. Frühgeschichte d. Staatlichen Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz Berlin in Berlin-Charlottenburg vom 31. Juli-14. Sept. 1980, no. 104. Miriam S. Balmuth, ‘Sardinian Bronzetti in American Museums’, Studi Sardi (1975-1977), Vol. 24, 145-52, passim, figs. 1 and 2. Provenance Previously in a Private Collection, Germany, from at least 1960. With Jacques O. Matossian (1893-1963), Egypt, acquired from the above, until 1960. With Marguerite (1900-1977) and Paul Mallon (1884-1975), living at that time at Hotel Hassler, Rome, 1960 to 1965. Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, USA (inv. no. 65.22), acquired from the above 30th December 1965 with the George B. and Jenny R. Mathews Fund (includes a dated acquisition record). ALR: S00218849, with IADAA certificate, this item has been checked against the Interpol database.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 6.3 in (16 cm)Width: 3.15 in (8 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 7th - 6th century B.C.
  • Condition:
    Repaired: Cracks across proper left elbow and proper right forearm probably indicating repairs. 161. Wear consistent with age and use. Corroded as shown. Tips of horns and upper end of sword fragmentary.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5517242131062

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