HELLENISTIC SET OF PHALERAE, ORNAMENTS OF HORSE EQUIPMENT
Ca. 300-200 BC.
Bronze plated with embossed silver plates. There are two types of phalerae in the set. Six phalerae in the form of oval plates with the image of hovering Nike on the background of perun with trophies in his hands, in his right hand holding a linothorax in the left Hellenistic helmet of Attic type (similar helmet is known from murals in the tomb of Lyson and Kallicles, near Lefkadia, built along an ancient road that connects the city of Mieza with Pella. Such helmets are also depicted on the Hellenistic reliefs of Pergamum). A similar plot is known on the phalerae from the territory of the Kuban, dating from the end of the 3rd century BC to the beginning of the 2nd century BC.​ There are also nine circular phalerae decorated with 12 ray stars and a border of egg-and-dart. This composite dates from the 3rd century BC.​ The complete set and the splendid preservation of the complex make it a unique work of ancient craftsmen.​ Phalerae - large convex or flat plaques - adorned a horse's breastplate or tailpiece. In the first case, they were put on the place where two straps were connected - one running along the chest and the other across the withers and were placed on the shoulders of the horse; in the second case, they were placed on the place where the longitudinal and transverse straps of the tailpiece were connected, approximately in the middle of the croup, on both sides of it. This is how phalerae are located on numerous reliefs of Hellenistic and Roman times.​ Item comes with a professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists. Scientific sources : Valentina Mordvinceva. Sarmatische Phaleren.​ Archäologie in Eurasien, Band 11; Bohn R. Altertümer von Pergamon. Band II. Das Heiligtum der Athena Polias Nikephoros. Berlin: Verlag von W. Spemann, 1885. 144 S. 50 Taf; Aleksandr Symonenko Sarmatian Horsemen of North Pontic Region (2nd ed.).
Size: L:20-110mm / W:40-60mm ; 535g
Property of an European collector; bought from a UK gentleman collection, formed in the 1960s-1990s.
Estimate: GBP 25000 - 35000