Behind the Bronzes
Bronzes from the Eurasian steppe region generally tended to be useful, personal objects that were small and portable to enable easy transportation within their nomadic lifestyle; bronze was also a relatively lightweight and durable metal compared to others like silver or iron. Though there were regional differences in aesthetics and themes, these ornaments and tools would generally contain motifs that indicated status and an affiliation with certain regional nomadic groups. The purposes of these tools were equally as diverse, and these bronze pieces could range from decorative ornamentation that would be worn by high-status members in their nomadic societies to weapons and tools used in everyday life (and sometimes in battle) to cauldrons used by shamans in religious ritual practices. Many of these bronze pieces would be buried with their wearers, and many of these same pieces are found in ancient Eurasian tombs.
Although there was no generalized style of artistic expression for this region due to the presence of these smaller nomadic groups with individual aesthetic preferences, there were several prominent genres of motifs that were employed by these people. Geometric and vegetal motifs were popular, but by far the most common motif found was zoomorphic due to the extremely vital role that domesticated and wild animals played in their culture. All of these motifs were readily recognizable by the regional groups that created, utilized, and wore them, and these motifs would often hold meaning towards the complex hierarchical structure that existed both within groups and amongst these groups themselves. Some of these images include: predators attacking their prey (mostly in the form of a carnivore attacking an herbivore), recumbent animals (primarily deer), animals engaged in confrontation or combat, and even mythological scenes of dragons and other creatures.
Some primary examples of zoomorphic motifs in Eurasian steppe bronzes are shown below. Please click on an image to be redirected to the object's respective file, which contains more information:
