Late Bronze Age III

Bronze Figural Vessel Stand

Bronze wheeled stand for a vessel, with figural scenes on the side panels, and an animal frieze on the ring; some parts case in the lost-wax technique, others are mould-cast and hammered; the rectangular side panels are composed of cast rods which support à jouré (openwork) figural scenes with animal friezes below; a bird sits at each corner at the top; the uprights continue below the level of the frames to join the wheel-axles, which are also connected to the frame by roughly triangular supports (missing on one side); small pendants (fruit?) hang from rings attached to the bottom of each side (some are now missing); the wheels have six spokes. The ring at the top sits on a ridged rectangular support; the frieze is framed by moulded borders; part of the ring above Side B is now missing. The cast ring shows a frieze of animals. These include pairs of lions attacking a creature, perhaps a man, and a grazing deer. The main decoration, in the à jouré technique, is in two unequally-sized registers. Side A: in the upper register, a sphinx wearing a flat cap; in the lower part, two birds. Side B: a lion, moving to the right, grips a long-necked water-bird by the neck; the lower register of this scene is in poor condition, but perhaps originally showed dolphins. Side C: A two-horse chariot with driver and passenger moves to the right in the next upper register. It has six-spoke wheels (like the stand itself) and the light cab has a quiver hanging on the side; the scene below may show three water-birds. Side D: a seated figure playing a stringed instrument is approached by two figures of whom the first plays a similar stringed instrument. The third figure, apparently a serving boy, carries a jug in his right hand and raises a stemmed cup to face level in his left; the lower register shows a long-necked water-bird attacks a fish or dolphin. Part of the ring and most of one leg are missing. Dimensions: Diameter: 7.62 centimetres wheels ; Height: 29.21 centimetres without wheels ; Weight: 3.20 kilograms approx. Object Type: vessel-stand; stand Techniques: hammered; cast; mould-made; soldered