Iberian, 5th century B.C.

Bronze

H: 3.9 cm L: 7.4 cm

Serial: 5401

Provenance

Ex- Frank Sternburg private collection, Zurich

This small, solid-cast bronze pig is a wonderful example of Iberian bronze work. The pig is rendered in profile, with only two of its short, stocky legs visible; the ear stands away from the head, and the tail is curled flat against the animal’s bottom, typical of Iberian representations of pigs and boars. The face is stylized, with a single expressive eye incised, and a broad snout. On the top of the animal is a shallow inscription in Iberian (add research re: inscription?).

The Iberians produced a great number of small bronze figures from the 5th century to the 1st century B.C., mostly in human form (some in the form of priests, others of warriors and horsemen) for votive offering. They also produced animals in bronze, both wild beasts, like lions, and domesticated animals, like horses, donkeys, bulls and oxen. It is likely that our pig belongs with these domesticated animals, immortalized in bronze because of their great importance to the Iberian economy. Our pig is unusual because only half of the animal is depicted (the back of the object is plain), which may indicate that it was an applique, a decoration of sorts to a larger object (furniture?) in metal or wood. However, as there are no visible attachments, it is not possible to say for certain what function this piece served.