Iberica Bronze Male figure Exvoto. Including export license from the Ministry of Culture in Spain - 4×0.5×4 cm

PROVENANCE: Private collection, Windsor, Conneticut (USA) . Before in a collection fo Mr. Lewis, New York, 1991. Acquired to Atlantis Antiquities, New York, 3rd May 1991. 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 stylised 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 honour 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 centres 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 centres, being sometimes authentic community centres of worship of territorial control. The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally , provenance statement seen by Catawiki. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.