286
Lion's Head
Greece; 7th c. BC

The head, hammered from a single piece of thin bronze plate, shows an animal at full alert. This impression is enhanced by the half open mouth, accentuated eyebrows and large protruding eyes with a fixed look. The mane is rendered with undulating parallel lines and is close to the geometrical style characterized by ornamental patterns. The whiskers are executed in parallel lines that look like palm leaves, and the slightly pointed ears inclined backwards suggest the Assyrian influence so often found in Ionic art. This would date the head to the early orientalizing style of Greek art.