ETRUSCAN BRONZE FIGURINES

   The most ancient bronze figurines are known to be from the Volterra area between the middle of the seventh century and the middle of the sixth century BC along the Cecina and Arno rivers. Figures carrying a spear or sword or veiled in the act of offering are the main subjects. One of the first (sixth century BC) significant known contexts for bronze figurines is that of Brolio in the Chiana Valley. A second (late sixth century) is the Fonte Veneziana deposit from the city of Arezzo. A further significant deposit from the northeast of Etruria, dating to the fifth century, is that of Monte Falterona. These figurines are generally between 5 and 10 centimeters in height, although there are larger examples (30 to 40 centimeters) from Brolio and Monte Falterona. Other major finds stand at the limits of geographical Etruria at locations such as Monte Acuto Ragazza, Marzabotto, and Bologna. To the south, Vulci was also a major settlement of production. Four large bronzes (maximum dimensions of 50 to 180 centimeters) are generally later in date but show Etruscan stylistic or inscriptional links: the Capitoline Wolf (early fifth century BC), the warrior from Todi (400 BC), the Arezzo Chimera (fourth century BC), and the Orator (80 BC) from Pila near Perugia. Manufacture was by the lost wax process.