Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Babylon or Sumer, ca. 2nd to 1st millennium BCE. A titillating terracotta plaque presenting an erotic scene featuring a nude couple, the male standing behind the female and engaged in lascivious behavior while the woman bends over. Clay plaques like this example were produced in southern Mesopotamia from the second millennium BCE. Their iconography typically illustrated informal activities as well as the private more intimate sides of life. Although scholars have not conclusively determined their exact purpose, most suggest that they may have had magical or religious significance. Size: 3" W x 2.375" H (7.6 cm x 6 cm); 3.25" H (8.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private prominent D.K. collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 2000s

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#163868

  • Condition: Fragment of larger piece. Softening of detail, as well as nicks, chips, and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with light earthen deposits.

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May 6, 2021 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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