Iberian Bronze Votive human figure. Exvoto. Spanish Export License. 7,5 cm H

Male figure Iberian 5th century BC Bronze Height 5. 6 cm 7. 5 cm as mounted. PROVENANCE: French private collection. Previously purchased at public auction in France. DOCUMENTS: Including export license from the Ministry of Culture in Spain. CONDITION: Good condition, intact. DESCRIPTION: The Iberians expressed their religiosity through votive offerings in the form of small figures made of stone, bronze or terracotta, elements of "popular art" that were initially considered as representations of gods. As for the metallic votive offerings, they are solid pieces made using the “lost wax” technique, with a size not exceeding 18 cm in height, with some exceptions. They are generally stylized images of male and female offerers in an attitude of prayer, with some exaggerated feature (hands, eyes, sexual organs) and carrying an offering (a roll, fruits, etc.) . In the same way, horsemen, horses and body parts are also known, as well as miniatures of attacked knives. Its chronology starts, in general, from the middle of the third century BC. These pieces were deposited in honor of deities, in exchange for protection, well-being, health and prosperity, being found in Iberian sanctuaries in the south and southeast of the peninsula, highlighting nuclei such as the Despeñaperros environment in Jaén (Collado de los Jardines, Castellar de Santisteban) or La Luz (Verdolay, Murcia) , as well as in other parts of Andalusia and Levante. These centers of worship are always located on elevations of the land or in caves, close to important communication routes and water courses, at a certain distance from the population centers, being sometimes authentic community centers of worship of territorial control. Notes: - The piece includes authenticity certificate. - The piece includes Spanish Export License. - The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.