8th-9th century A.D. A substantial hollow-formed bronze standing stag figure, head erect, antlers poised horizontally each with four tines and a bifid crown, low-relief fur texture to the chest, lentoid eyes; longitudinal slit to the junction of neck and back; hinged door to the flank with fastening lug, possibly for use as a money box. See Trever, K.B. & Lukonin, V.G., Sasanidskoe Serebro, Moscow, 1987. 2.5 kg, 24 cm (9 1/2 in.). Naxos Art Gallery, London, UK, before 1986. Property of a London gentleman. Apanied by a metallurgic analytical report written by Metallurgist Dr. Brian Gilmour, report number 146266/HM1363. Apanied by a detailed report by Near Eastern Art expert Prof J.W. Allan. Apanied a copy of the purchase from Naxos Art Gallery dated 12 October 1986. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is apanied by AIAD certificate no.11351-19136. The slot in the animal's neck indicates that it was intended to serve as a money-box, being of a size suitable to accept early Islamic dirham coins of 28-30mm in diameter and up to 1.8mm in thickness. The lateral hinged door allows the coins to be retrieved without damaging the container, in contrast with contemporary ceramic containers which had to be broken open for this purpose. [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions .]