Description:

Ancient Near East, Anatolia, 6000 to 4000 BCE. A highly stylized, schematic stone idol, shaped from unpolished marble, with five copper nails inserted into drilled holes around the upper "head" portion of the body, and hammered flat to secure them. The body is composed of two rounded portions joined in a thinner section at the neck, with one rounded portion slightly larger than the other (the "head"), and the other side with a flattened bottom with a deeply incised quadrant motif carved into it. The head has a small hole drilled into its top that may also have once held a copper nail. Incised lines, especially on one face, give it further details, perhaps of eyes and a headdress. Size: 1.8" W x 3.1" H (4.6 cm x 7.9 cm)

One of the most common shapes of the Anatolian marble idols, the so-called "figure of eight" shaped figurine, is characterized by a very distinct division between the head and the body. Most have a flattened form, but some, like this one, are more three-dimensional. These figures are found particularly in western Anatolian sites like Troy. They were made for worship, most likely in household shrines or carried in cult rituals. The bronze nails provide a tantalizing glimpse into some of the ways that they were revered.

Provenance: Ex- California Museum of Ancient Art, Ex Private New York collection before 1995

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#120949

  • Condition: Expected age wear to the stone surface.

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March 15, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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