Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Nippur, Sumerian, ca. 2700 to 2600 BCE. A finely carved cow statue lying in a prone position from a mottled stone of beige hues with integral black markings and white deposits. The recumbent bovine is simplistic- the legs in low relief to the sides, and the slight bumps on the head indicating horns or ears. This effigy perhaps symbolizes Ninsumun or Ninsun - whose name means "lady of the wild cows" - and according to Sumerian mythology is a goddess beloved for being the mother of the celebrated hero Gilgamesh, as well as the tutelary goddess of Gudea of Lagash. It is also possible this is the pregnant cow known as Geme-Sin belonging to Nanna/Suen/Sin - the Mesopotamian moon god. The statue is just large enough to rest in the palm of a hand, but much too large to carry as an amulet, and must have had a special place in a shrine or altar as an offering or idol. Size: 4.75" L x 1.75" W x 2.25" H (12.1 cm x 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm)

Provenance: private Marysville, California, USA collection, purchased from Artemis Gallery auction, January 10, 2019, lot 56B; ex-East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#171128

  • Condition: Small old chips to right flank and nicks to tail, otherwise intact and excellent. Nice deposits and smooth, lustrous patina.

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August 25, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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