*A GREEK GEOMETRIC BRONZE BIRD. Ca. 9th century BCE H. 7,3 cm Provenance Old private collection, Switzerland, between 1980s-1990s With its crest and full tail, this bird, perhaps a peacock, is particularly magnificent. It could have stood on its base or been hung through the loop on the back (missing). The fullness of its body is enhanced by the elegant verticality of the posture. Great state of conservation. In Geometric art, animal representations vastly outnumber those of humans, with horses, birds, sheep, bulls, and other quadrupeds appearing most frequently. Thousands of cast bronze figurines have been uncovered in sanctuaries across ancient Greece, where they were left as personal votive offerings to the gods. Bronze birds such as this example—shown standing on a base—are most commonly found in sanctuaries located in northern Greece. For Swiss buyers, VAT applies to the hammer price and buyer's premium (only for the lots with the * mention)