Lot 44
Asia Minor, 6th to 5th millennium BCE. One of the earliest examples of figural art we have had the pleasure of ever offering or even handling! A carved stone turtle of a well-defined form with shell, legs, tail, and a head with pierced eyes and a pleasant smile, all nicely delineated. Hues of light russet and white, some of which are inherent to the stone, others which have naturally developed over the years, enhance the beauty of this piece. The significance of the turtle in Asia Minor is difficult to ascertain; however, we have seen ancient coins from Asia Minor that depict a turtle on one side. Also, during the 19th century, several travelogues made note of the prevalence of turtles in this part of the world. For instance, one Frederick Arthur Neale wrote,"The large lagoons off Ayas afford shelter to innumerable turtle, which are occasionally caught by crews of men-of-war. Her Majesty's steamer 'Hecate' caught upwards of three hundred in a very few hours; and it was rare sport to see the tars turning them over, or getting turned over themselves, as the turtle made a rush to break through their ranks, and escape to sea." (Eight Years in Syria, Palestine and Asia Minor, from 1842 to 1850, volume 2. p. 226) An extremely rare, early, and quite endearing piece of visual culture! Custom stand. Size: piece itself measures 6" L x 5" W x 1.75" H (15.2 cm x 12.7 cm x 4.4 cm)
Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago
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#112527
- Condition: Intact and of a vivid form, with expected encrustation and surface wear. Remarkably in overall excellent condition.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
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| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |