Bronze leg of a cauldron with horseman

Unknown

ca. late 8th century BCE · Bronze · Greek and Roman Art

Originally part of a set of three, this solid cast bronze leg in the form of a horse and rider would have supported a large bowl or basin used in lavish Etruscan gatherings. These vessels are common at Vetulonia, in Etruria, where this leg was likely manufactured, and continue a long tradition of bronze working in this metal-rich region. As symbols of wealth and status, the vessels were frequently buried with their owners, and perhaps allude to the funerary banquet.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. late 8th century BCE

Medium

Bronze

Culture

Italic, Villanovan

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Nanette B. Kelekian, 2020