A Pair of Etruscan Bronze Attachments, circa early 5th Century B.C.

Each in the form of lion skin-clad Heracles on the left and Iolaus on the right wielding clubs over their prey, one depicting the Erymanthean Boar, the other the Hind of Keryneia, volutes with small palmette terminals surmounting a large pointed palmette below.

Mathias Komor, New York [I.514 and I.515], February 24th, 1978

Each in good condition with some of ends of palmette leaves fragmentary as shown, the attachment with boar hunt has a what appears to be a spot of bronze disease in back.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

For an almost identical attachment depicting the Keryneian Hind hunt in the Vatican Museums, Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, see S. Reinach, Répertoire de la statuaire grecque et romaine, vol. IV, 2nd ed., 1913, p. 320, no. 2 (line drawing from W.H. Roscher, Ausführliches Lexikon der griechischen und römischen Mythologie, vol. 1,2, Leipzig, 1886-1890, p. 2265). Also see A. de Ridder, Les Bronzes antiques du louvre, Paris, 1913-1915, pl. 100 (Reinach, op. cit., vol. V, 1924, p. 98, nos. 1-2), two examples representing the same labours of Herakles as the present ones.

For a basin handle in the form of two fighting warriors, each with a similar palmette below, see S. Haynes, Etruscan Bronzes, London, 1985, no. 153. Similar subjects and compositions, also in openwork, can be found on the feet of Etruscan cistas or other vessels (e.g. D.G. Mitten and S. Doeringer, Master Bronzes from the Classical World, Mainz am Rhein, 1967, no. 192).