Walking Stick - Greek Bull's Head

Elegant black lacquered wood walking stick featuring silver-plated reproduction of Greek Bull's Head cup for a handle.

- Length: 37 inches
- Diameter: 0.79 inches
- Materials: Lacquered beechwood shaft and silver-plated brass handle with hand-painted gold accents
- Includes fabric storage pouch
- Made in Italy
- Not intended to be used as a medical device
- Item #: WS924

Made exclusively for the Getty by Walking Sticks, an artisan company that creates luxury accessories and objects for several uses, and leader in the production of walking sticks. With the passing of time, it has become a byword for quality thanks to the care for small particulars, to elegance and tradition, obtaining great results in the worldwide market. It has developed with its creativity a design aiming to satisfy all client requests, communicating taste and originality of the Made in Italy artisan products.

Information on the referenced art object:
Formed in the shape of a young bull's head, this cup is actually composed of two pieces: the shaped outer body and a removable inner liner. The outer body was hammered from a single sheet of silver with repoussé and stamped details. The horns, mouth, garland, and tear ducts of the eyes are gilt, while the remainder of the eyes was inlaid with glass paste. The garland tied around the neck and the gilding of the horns mark this bull as a sacrificial animal. In the Hellenistic period, the use of luxurious gold and silver tableware was a feature of aristocratic life. Opulent vessels combining silver and gold for the color contrast, such as this cup, were especially desirable. Although many vessels in the form of animal heads or with separable liners are known, this vessel, with its combination of these elements, is unique.

Cup in the Form of a Bull's Head, 100 BCE
East Greece 
Silver with leaf gilding
9 cm x 12.1 cm x 10.7 cm (3 9/16 inches x 4 inches 4 inches) 
The J. Paul Getty Museum, 87.AM.58