Ancient Near Eastern Bronze Wild Boar Idol (Circa 1st Millennium BC) Figuirine For Sale

Authenticity NoticeThis artifact is certified authentic and will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity and Provenance.

Details

• Object: Zoomorphic Votive Idol / Figurine

• Culture: Near Eastern (Luristan / North Persian)

• Date: Circa 1000–600 BC

• Material: Bronze (Copper-alloy)

• Form: Compact, muscular representation of a wild boar in a charging or standing posture

• Size: 33mm

• Region: Western Asia / Fertile Crescent

Identification: The Wild Boar in the Ancient Near EastThis 33mm bronze figurine is a powerful representation of a Wild Boar, a frequent subject in the "Animal Style" art of the early 1st millennium BC Near East.

• The Iconography: The idol captures the raw power of the boar, featuring a thick neck, a robust, muscular body, and a distinctive snout. While later cultures in the region developed religious dietary aversions to the pig, the wild boar remained a respected and feared symbol of ferocity and strength throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages.

• Symbolism: In the pre-Islamic and pre-Judaic Near East, the boar was often associated with the hunt and protective deities. Its image was used on talismans and votive offerings to grant the owner the boar's tenacity and defensive capabilities.

• Artistic Style: The stylized, somewhat abstract anatomy is diagnostic of the nomadic and semi-nomadic metalworkers of the Zagros Mountains, where animal-themed bronzes reached their artistic zenith.

Overview and Historical ContextDuring the early 1st millennium BC, the Near East was home to skilled metalworking cultures that produced a vast array of zoomorphic idols. This 33mm piece would have served as a votive offering, potentially placed in a sanctuary or carried as a personal protective totem. The boar’s aggressive nature made it an ideal emblem for warriors or hunters seeking divine favor. Far from being "hated" in this era, the wild boar was a sacred and central figure in the wild fauna of the Fertile Crescent.

Authenticity Check

• Patina: The artifact displays a superb, stable "Desert" patina characterized by a dark chocolate-brown core and heavy, authentic earthen mineralization in sandy-ochre tones.

• Casting: The figure exhibits the characteristic "soft" contours of ancient lost-wax casting, with no evidence of modern mold seams or mechanical finishing.

Comparable Examples

1. The British Museum, London: Accession No. 132912 (Bronze boar figurines from the Near East/Luristan).

2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York: Accession No. 63.22 (Ancient Near Eastern zoomorphic bronzes).

3. Louvre Museum, Paris: Extensive collection of Persian and Mesopotamian animal-style votive bronzes.

Further Reading

1. Moorey, P.R.S. – Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes: The definitive guide to zoomorphic metalwork from the region.

2. Bahrani, Zainab – Rituals of War: On the symbolic role of aggressive animals in ancient Near Eastern art and society.

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