A BRONZE FIGURE OF A RECUMBENT DEER, DONG SON CULTURE Northern Vietnam, 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD. Well cast in a recumbent position with the hindlimbs tucked underneath the body and the forelimbs outstretched, the short tail swung to one side, the head slightly raised and incised with doe-eyes and a wide snout, surmounted by antlers and pricked ears. The body adorned with numerous spiral designs characteristic of the Dong Son culture. Covered in a rich, naturally grown patina with vibrant malachite encrustations. Provenance: From the private collection of Darwin Freeman, collected between 1968-1971, and thence by descent within the same family. Born 1946 in Idaho, USA, Darwin Freeman was a member of the armed forces and later became an avid collector. He met his wife in the mid-1960s, and the pair later relocated to her hometown of Innsbruck, Austria. In 1967, Freeman was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany and Thailand. While he was stationed at the Embassy in Bangkok, between 1969 and 1971, he actively began engaging in the exploration and collection of ancient bronzes and other works of art. Upon completing his duty, Freeman arranged for his collection to be shipped to Austria, where it remained in storage until this day. Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive wear, signs of weathering and erosion, casting flaws, minor losses to the antlers and outstretched paws. Weight: 415 g Dimensions: Length 13 cm Dong Son (named for Dong Son, a village in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam) was a Bronze Age culture in ancient Vietnam centered at the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam from 1000 BC until the first century AD. Vietnamese historians attribute it to the states of Văn Lang and Âu Lạc. Its influence spread to other parts of Southeast Asia, including Maritime Southeast Asia, throughout the first millennium BC. The culture long remained a mystery to western archaeologists, and it was known only through its bronze objects, many of which were taken from burial sites. Dong Son bronze objects were exhibited in Europe for a century before their original location was even determined, and several theories and speculations over the dating methodologies of the culture continue to this day. Literature comparison: Compare a related elephant-shaped vessel with similar spiral designs, 16 cm long, dated 2nd century BC to 2nd century AD, in the Asian Civilizations Museum, Singapore, accession number 2007-56439. Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Galerie Zacke, Vienna, 10 March 2023, lot 613 Price: EUR 2,600 or approx. EUR 2,700 adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A rare bronze figure of a recumbent buffalo, Dong Son culture Expert remark: Compare the closely related spiral decorations and similar size (11.8 cm).