Statuette of a Horse

750–700 BC

Statuette of a Horse, 750–700 BC. Greek, Geometric, probably Corinthian. Bronze; overall: 11.5 x 10 x 2.6 cm (4 1/2 x 3 15/16 x 1 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1998.173 Cast using the lost-wax process, this bronze horse with perforated stand is conceived in profile, its balanced and stylized forms designed for clarity and legibility. Among thousands of bronze animal figurines produced across the Greek world in the Geometric period, this example stands out for its intact condition and large size. Although lacking a known findspot, its form suggests that it may have been produced in a Corinthian workshop. The triangular perforations in this statuette’s base give an impression of translucence, perhaps alluding to water.