Figure of a wild goat (forgery)

Wild goat, rearing, with front legs bent double, standing on a tube-like support with chevron pattern and a central rib in relief. Gold, hollow; a band of fine gold wire over center of body. Originally one of two handles of an amphora-shaped vase. Cf. 63.15. Cracks in front of neck and ears. Weight: 4-1/2 oz.

Historical period(s)
Modern forgery
Medium
Gold
Dimensions
H (overall): 22.6 cm (8 7/8 in)
Geography
Iran
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1964.6
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Sculpture
Type

Figure: goat

Keywords
forgery, goat, Iran, twisted wire
Provenance

To 1964
K. Rabenou, New York, New York. [1]

From 1964
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from K. Rabenou, New York, New York. [2]

Notes:

[1] Object folder, undated folder sheet note. Also see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

K. Rabenou

Description

Wild goat, rearing, with front legs bent double, standing on a tube-like support with chevron pattern and a central rib in relief. Gold, hollow; a band of fine gold wire over center of body. Originally one of two handles of an amphora-shaped vase. Cf. 63.15. Cracks in front of neck and ears. Weight: 4-1/2 oz.

Published References
  • Jean-Louis Huot. Persia: From the Origins to the Achaemenids. Cleveland. pl. 140.
  • Dr. Esin Atil. Exhibition of 2500 Years of Persian Art. Exh. cat. Washington, 1971. cat. 40.
  • Mountains and Lowlands: Essays in the Archaeology of Greater Mesopotamia. Bibliotheca Mesopotamica, no. 7 Malibu, CA. cat. 105, p. 179.
  • Ann C. Gunter, Paul Jett. Ancient Iranian Metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art. Washington and Mainz, Germany, 1992. cat. 43, pp. 224-226.
  • Roman Ghirshman. Rich Treasures of Persian Animal Art Recently Discovered, Gold, Silver, and Bronze: Master Works of Ancient Iranian Artists. 236, no. 6296, April 2, 1960. p. 550.
Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Web Resources
Whistler's Neighborhood
Google Cultural Institute
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