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Sculpture of a Horse (Olympia B 1741)

Sculpture of a Horse (Olympia B 1741) is an early archaic bronze sculpture discovered in Olympia in 1939 and now kept in the Archaeological Museum of Olympia. It is dated to the early 7th century BC and measures 45.5 cm in height and 47 cm in length. The figure was found in an early archaic well beneath the Mosaic Hall of the Nero House. Although heavily damaged, it is largely complete, with only the ends of the legs and tail broken off; the tail was later reattached. The work is significant as a unique transitional piece between small geometric sculpture and the larger-scale art of the Archaic period, and as an important example in the history of ancient bronze casting.

Bronze horse statuette from Olympia shown in profile on a pedestal.
A bronze horse from Olympia displayed in profile on a light pedestal.
May 2019 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bronze horse sculpture standing on a pedestal, facing left with clear support rods under the rear legs.
Bronze horse from a quadriga displayed on a pedestal, with support rods visible beneath the rear legs.
April 2011 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bronze horse sculpture from a quadriga, shown in profile with a ridged mane and harness details.
A bronze horse from a quadriga, displayed in profile at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia.
June 2007 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
A dark bronze horse figure stands on a pedestal in a museum display.
A stylized bronze horse sculpture displayed on a pedestal in a museum.
© · Public domain
Dark bronze horse figurine with an elongated neck, prominent ears, and a textured surface on a clear display base.
Ancient bronze horse figurine displayed on a clear base.
September 2014 © · CC BY-SA 2.0

Identification

TitleSculpture of a horse (Olympia B 1741)
Object typeArchaic bronze sculpture
SubjectHorse

Historical context

PeriodEarly Archaic
DateEarly 7th century BC

Discovery and provenance

Discovery date1939
Discovery locationOlympia
Findspot contextFound during excavations in an archaic well beneath the mosaic floor of the House of Nero
Inventory numberB 1741

Location and ownership

Current locationArchaeological Museum of Olympia

Physical characteristics

TailThe bent tail was broken off and reattached
Original heightAbout half a metre tall
ConditionHeavily battered but largely preserved; only the ends of the legs and the tail are broken off
Dimensions45.5 cm high, 47 cm long

Materials

MaterialBronze

Technique

ConstructionCast in solid bronze in two separately cast parts that were then joined together
Casting assessmentThe solid-cast technique was not suitable for a sculpture of this size, and the attempt to join the two parts without a visible seam failed
Manufacturing defectsBoth parts show casting defects

Appearance

Artistic qualityArtistically and stylistically modest; the formal execution was considered unsatisfactory

Iconography and meaning

InterpretationAn attempt to enlarge a figure using traditional technique; possibly intended as a monument commemorating a victorious horse in the ancient Olympic Games

Significance

Art-historical significanceThe only surviving work of its kind and of great art-historical interest as a unique transitional work between Geometric small-format sculpture and the larger format of the Archaic period
Historical significanceHighly important for the history of ancient bronze casting; unsuccessful attempts like this probably contributed to the development of hollow casting in the course of the 7th century BC