Description:

Western Asia, Dagestan Region, located on the northwestern shores of the Caspian Sea, ca. 1500 to 500 BCE. A miniature pair of bronze standing idols, a male and a female, with hands raised in the classic style of the region, those enormous wide palms turned to face outward. It was apparently important for the sculptor to delineate their sex - note the female's round breasts and the male's small phallus - as well as bold facial features and those characteristic pantomime-like poses. Custom stand. Size: male figure measures 2" H (5.1 cm); 2.25" H (5.7 cm) on included custom stand.

This particular style comes from the Caucasus, a little-studied region, with most academic studies done in Russian. These small bronze figures seem to have been part of an incredibly long artistic tradition; they look similar to clay ones created during the Neolithic period. At this same time, burials contain a tremendous number of weapons, and we believe that gods related to military prowess. Interestingly, Russian archaeologists have found some examples of these small idols buried with remains of clothing on them - perhaps the reason why their bodies are relatively undecorated.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection

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#127739

  • Condition: Excellent with lustrous, deep green patina.

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April 17, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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