A very fine bronze stylised quadruped figurine, probably a bull, dating to the Iron Age. It features a thick body, straight short legs, and a short tail. The bull displays a triangular-shaped skull, atop which sits a pair of curved horns. A small hump is visible behind the animal's head. Earthly encrustations to the surface. Animals are a recurring motif in Iron Age art and metalwork, ranging from mammals such as ibexes and large bird to zoomorphic creatures including griffins. The manufacturers of these bronzes are widely understood to have been a nomadic people, and as such working animals such as bulls would have been central to their way of life, aiding in transport and agriculture and featuring in religion. The importance of bulls in Iron Age cultures is reflected in their prevalence in the material art. Dimensions: (circa) L 4.4cm x H 2.9cm Provenance: Ex London Collection, formed between 1990-present.