Bronze wall sconce depicting the Gorgon Medusa. Greece, 5th century B.C.

Bronze wall sconce depicting the Gorgon Medusa. Greece, 5th century B.C.
Bronze with a green patina.
Provenance: former collection of Jacques Hollander (1940–2004), Belgium.
Condition: intact, with archaeological patina.
Measurements: 7 x 8 cm.

This bronze wall sconce is an interesting depiction of the Gorgon Medusa, a mythological figure with protective powers whose image held a prominent place in the ornamental repertoire of ancient Greece. Its iconography follows the Archaic tradition, in which these creatures were frequently depicted with outstretched wings and in a running pose, symbolizing their supernatural nature.

The figure is shown facing forward, with long hair, outstretched wings, and arms arranged asymmetrically—one raised and the other lowered. Her legs adopt the characteristic “kneeling run” posture, a conventional device used in Greek art to express movement and speed. The composition stands out for its dynamism and for the green patina covering the bronze’s surface, which accentuates its archaeological character.

In Greek mythology, Medusa was one of the three Gorgons, whose gaze had the power to petrify. Her depiction served an apotropaic function, intended to ward off evil and protect the bearer or the space where she was located. Wall plaques with comparable iconography are known to exist in the collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Crotone and the Louvre Museum in Paris.