The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 18, 2025

Carved wood sculpture of a howling wolf with a striated, chalky white surface showing dark brown and black undertones. The wolf sits back on its haunches, tilting its head back, ears sticking straight back and mouth open. The surface is rough without details such as eyes or individual teeth carved.

Howling Wolf

c. 500–200 BCE

Southern Siberia

wood with shell inlays
Overall: 11.1 x 3.3 x 5.9 cm (4 3/8 x 1 5/16 x 2 5/16 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1986.26
Location: 102A Ancient Near East

Did You Know?

The artist captured this wolf in mid-howl, depicting a wild animal in its natural element. The naturalistic carving of the wood depicts the animal's features, making it recognizable despite the eroded surface.

Description

Its subject, size, materials, and naturalistic style suggest that this small sculpture was made by one of the nomadic peoples of Western and Central Asia—perhaps the Scythians, who, with the Medes, conquered the Assyrians. Works of art made by the Scythians and other nomadic groups are shown on the northwest wall of this gallery.
  • –1986
    Mansour Gallery, London
    1986–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Year in Review for 1986. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 4-March 15, 1987).
  • {{cite web|title=Howling Wolf|url=false|author=|year=c. 500–200 BCE|access-date=18 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1986.26