Portrait heads of reindeer and an ibex
Montastruc, Bruniquel, France.
Bone
Length: 11.3 cms
The British Museum
Palart.505
A rib bone was selected to display three reindeer heads and an ibex. Their positioning is beautifully achieved with the negative space used for depth and background. The reindeer are distinguished by their long cylindrical snouts and appear in the foreground whereas the ibex (second from left) with its characteristic goatee beard and backward sloping horns is set back. Each reindeer is shaded differently to distinguish particular individuals. The portraits do not represent still animals. Their ears are back, their mouths are open and the heads are stretched forward as they would appear in motion either running in alarm. The reindeer on the right is slightly larger and lacks antlers. This may suggest a winter scene when the males have lost their antlers after mating but the females retain them. The possible male appears to be bellowing and tossing its head back adding to the sense of movement and fear
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