The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of August 17, 2022

Recumbent Animal on Grater or Scraper

700–500 BC

Greece or Asia Minor, 8th-6th Century BC

Bronze with iron grating plate

Overall: 4.1 cm (1 5/8 in.); Base: 7.6 x 4.3 cm (3 x 1 11/16 in.)

Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 1974.37

Location

102C Greek

Fun Fact

The exact use of this enigmatic object remains unknown.

Description

An emaciated bull lying on the ground, his legs tucked under in a resting position, may constitute a handle for this unusual object—likely a grater or scraper, judging from the perforated metal plate on its underside. The anatomically curious ridges across the neck and torso of the animal, as well as the large horned head turned perpendicular to the body, may have helped the owner grip the object while in use.

Citations
Kozloff, Arielle P. "A Bronze Menagerie." The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 63, no. 3 (March 1976): 75-88. Mentioned: p. 77-79; Reproduced: p. 77, fig. 7-8 www.jstor.org
Exhibition history

Year in Review: 1974. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (March 11-April 6, 1975).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.37