Hellenistic Bronze Applique from a Door or Chest. 3rd-1st Century BC.
A wonderfully-preserved cast bronze roundel, made to be applied decoratively to an item of door or armor, featuring a striking face.
Medusa is best known for having hair made of snakes and for her ability to turn anyone she looked at to stone, literally to petrify.
Medusa is an instantly recognizable figure from ancient Greek art. Her face, whether fierce and grotesque or feminine and composed, appears in virtually all media in varying contexts.
The most common interpretation of Medusa suggests she is an apotropaic symbol used to protect from and ward off the negative, much like the modern evil eye.
She represents a dangerous threat meant to deter other dangerous threats, an image of evil to repel evil. Here she is depicted as more beautiful than usual, with large, striking eyes that stare straight forward as you gaze upon her and her murderous locks
Formerly in European private collection, early 1990 s.
Dutch Art Market,2002
320 gr. H: 66 mm. W: 67 mm