Ancient Animals
April 22, 2022 8:42 AM Subscribe
Ancient Animals
I have no experience with clay or sculpting, but I wanted to learn. I needed a project, so I started copying ancient animal sculptures that I found on the web. These were all made between November 2021 and April 2022. They're made with air dry clay, and painted with acrylic paints. I haven't tried kiln firing or glazing yet!
List of animals so far - I want to make more!
Chumash whale effigy, 1200-1600 CE
Rattle dog from Athens, 3rd c. BCE (Yes, my rattle dog really rattles!)
Horse, ancient greek, Boeotian, 6th c. BCE
Animal figurine, Late Mycenaean, 14th-13th c. BCE
Hedgehog on wheels, Susa, Iran, Middle Elamite period, 1500-1200 BCE
Spotted dog, Pakistan, Chanhu-Daro, 2600-1900 BCE
Boar, Tepe Sarab, Iranian Neolithic, 9th millennium BCE
I have no experience with clay or sculpting, but I wanted to learn. I needed a project, so I started copying ancient animal sculptures that I found on the web. These were all made between November 2021 and April 2022. They're made with air dry clay, and painted with acrylic paints. I haven't tried kiln firing or glazing yet!
List of animals so far - I want to make more!
Chumash whale effigy, 1200-1600 CE
Rattle dog from Athens, 3rd c. BCE (Yes, my rattle dog really rattles!)
Horse, ancient greek, Boeotian, 6th c. BCE
Animal figurine, Late Mycenaean, 14th-13th c. BCE
Hedgehog on wheels, Susa, Iran, Middle Elamite period, 1500-1200 BCE
Spotted dog, Pakistan, Chanhu-Daro, 2600-1900 BCE
Boar, Tepe Sarab, Iranian Neolithic, 9th millennium BCE
Role: animal sculptor
This project was posted to MetaFilter by aniola on August 12, 2022: Ancient Animals
What a great project!
posted by dhruva at 7:55 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by dhruva at 7:55 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love them all, the boar is my favorite.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:23 PM on April 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 6:23 PM on April 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
These are super! I often read about archaeology, and you're bringing deep history to life.
posted by unearthed at 7:18 PM on April 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by unearthed at 7:18 PM on April 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
What a great theme! Suggesting William, the faience hippo at the Metropolitan Museum, as a possible future subject.
There are also lots of great precolombian dogs from central and south america, like the ones in this article from the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles about Colima culture dogs.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 8:43 AM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
There are also lots of great precolombian dogs from central and south america, like the ones in this article from the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles about Colima culture dogs.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 8:43 AM on April 26, 2022 [1 favorite]
Love this. Great idea, great execution.
posted by gwint at 9:58 PM on April 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by gwint at 9:58 PM on April 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
These are totally fantastic! I love them all!
posted by that's candlepin at 9:35 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by that's candlepin at 9:35 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
these are so great!! i just picked up air dry sculpy at goodwill so im definitely InSPireD!!
posted by beanman at 8:07 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by beanman at 8:07 PM on May 16, 2022 [1 favorite]
Cool project!
posted by brachiopod at 9:31 AM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brachiopod at 9:31 AM on May 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
Just saw this on the front page and I love all of it! Thank you for posting this here and sharing it with us!
posted by kristi at 12:17 PM on August 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kristi at 12:17 PM on August 12, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by ellieBOA at 8:57 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]