Lot 387
Rare Archaic Greek Marble Griffon "Table Leg" Trapezophoros. Rare Greek marble is the upper torso of a griffon, ca. 6th-5th century B.C. Approximately 14.5 inches high by 5 inches wide by 8.25 inches deep. With custom wooden stand, the height is 17.75 inches. Quite heavy; it rotates on the stand with a thick metal support pin. Light brown patina. Some chips to the mouth and to the right ear; otherwise the bust of the griffon is nearly complete. Also missing the lower third section that was usually in the form of a lion's leg with a lion's paw-footed base.
The griffon is the rarest trapezophoros type, panther and lion heads being more common. For the ancient Greeks, the griffon symbolized the destroying power of the gods, and during the 5th-4th century B.C., it came to represent an anti-Persian symbol. Alexander the Great's army sported the griffon on its armor at the battle of Gaugamela in 331 B.C. when they crushed the Persian army. The griffon was also applied in the decoration of friezes, a tradition followed by the Romans. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000
Ex: F. Hirsch collection, Munich, Germany; ex: private New York collection.
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| Realized $1,080 |
