Lamp Stand in the Form of a Satyr

The lamp stand is made by the solid
casting technique and consists of a
figurine of a dancing satyr on a circular
base. The satyr stands on tiptoe on his
left foot and lifts his left leg forwards.
His arms are stretched out to either side
and his upper body is turned towards
the left. The hair and beard are indicated
by engraved lines, the eyes are almond
shaped and the nose is small and
upturned. A tapering bronze finial with a
pointed tip rises above the satyr's head.
A very similar lamp stand was found
during excavations of the ancient city
of Smyrna in a house dating from the
Classical Period (see Akurgal 1993, pls.
20-21, 62-64). The earliest examples
of this type of ancient Greek sculpture
in the round portraying a figure in
movement date from the 4th century BC.
The 'dancing satyr' figure, with a curving
body and arms and legs held in different
directions became the most popular type
(see Bieber 1955, p. 39, fig. 95-96).