Lacunarium (Decorative Shield with Salamanders)

Object/Artifact

-

The Civilization of Llhuros

LACAUNARIUM (Decorative Shield with Salamanders) | 1966-71 | Photo by Ann Cady, 2024 | ©2026 Norman Daly Art: The photo depicts an ancient, circular, clay artifact that appears to be a damaged, bas-relief, characterized by a series of small, rectangular indentations running across the center, with two carved salamanders positioned symmetrically around the indentation, which has jagged missing sections on opposite sides, possibly indicative of wear or breakage over time, against a solid gray background that contrasts with the textured, weathered surface of the artifact. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1972 Exhibition Catalog] Such shields are obviously too small and delicate to have been used in battles. Instead they were used as newel posts on large, elaborate funerary couches for temple priests. Bartholomew Black traces them to a workshop in Ronup (The Priest in the Llhuroscian World, p. 106). Eric Froehner argues for an Atraxos origin (Kunst and Leben der Llhuros, p. 153).
LACAUNARIUM (Decorative Shield with Salamanders) | 1966-71 | Photo by Ann Cady, 2024 | ©2026 Norman Daly Art

The photo depicts an ancient, circular, clay artifact that appears to be a damaged, bas-relief, characterized by a series of small, rectangular indentations running across the center, with two carved salamanders positioned symmetrically around the indentation, which has jagged missing sections on opposite sides, possibly indicative of wear or breakage over time, against a solid gray background that contrasts with the textured, weathered surface of the artifact. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1972 Exhibition Catalog] Such shields are obviously too small and delicate to have been used in battles. Instead they were used as newel posts on large, elaborate funerary couches for temple priests. Bartholomew Black traces them to a workshop in Ronup (The Priest in the Llhuroscian World, p. 106). Eric Froehner argues for an Atraxos origin (Kunst and Leben der Llhuros, p. 153).

Name/Title

Lacunarium (Decorative Shield with Salamanders)

Entry/Object ID

COL.92

Made/Created

Artist

Norman Daly

Date made

circa 1966 - 1971

Place

Academic Institution

Cornell University

City

Ithaca, New York

Continent

North America

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Region

Asia Minor

Culture/Tribe

Llhuros

Acquisition

Place

City

Ithaca, New York

Continent

North America

Exhibitions

Akron Art Institute (1972)
Cornell University | A.D. White Museum of Art (1972)
Indianapolis Art Museum (1972)
Istanbul Biennial, 16th | "The Seventh Continent" (2019)
Memorial Art Gallery | University of Rochester (1972)
Roberson Center for Art and Science, Binghamton, NY (1974)
Romische-Germanisches Museum | "Projekt '74" | Cologne Germany (1974)
SUNY Albany | Art Gallery (1973}
University of Pennsylvania Art Museum, Philadelphia (1974)

General Notes

Note

"Bronze; hammered shield, repousse salamanders made separately; light-green patina, corrosion and breaks on both sides; missing midsection and front right leg of reptile on the left, and lower paw and tip of tail of reptile on the right." )

Note

A plastic ashtray (circa 1950s) with small toy salamander figures applied - all with painted faux surface treatment.