Caricature of a mammoth made as weighted spear thrower
Montastruc, Bruniquel, France.
Antler
Length: 12.4 cms
The British Museum
Palart.551
This fragment of a weighted spear thrower was a valued object. It took time and skill to make and was considered worthy of repair. Originally the mammoth’s tail curled over unnaturally to form the hook of the thrower but when this broke a diagonal hole was made from the top of the back and out between the back legs so that a replacement could be inserted. When the handle broke the weapon could not be mended.
The shape of the mammoth was determined by the form of the material. It is sculpted from the top of an antler where it flattens and branches out. The shape and thickness of this area would not allow a fully three dimensional representation so the artist chose to create an ingenious caricature in which the beast is instantly recognisable although its anatomy is incorrect. The characteristic bump at the top of the head is not depicted and the back is straight rather than sloping. The holes we see as eyes are too large and incorrectly positioned. Originally, they were probably even more outstanding as such hollows were usually filled with shiny or coloured materials such amber, jet, lignite or quartz the made the animal’s appearance even more curious. No trunk is visible but the tusks are shown in relief on the sides of the shaft behind the break. The unnatural position of the legs is a response to the shape of the antler palmate but the broad feet are realistic.
The realisation of this sculpture took skill, time and imagination. It was expertly created by a skilled hand.
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