Description:

Ancient Western Europe, Spain, Iberian Peninsula, ca. 5th to 4th century BCE. A rare and intriguing effigy idol depicting a nude male standing atop thick thighs. The man presents with narrow arms held above a hanging phallus and testes, protruding hemispherical pectoral muscles perhaps indicative of manual labor or of being a slave, and a tapered triangular pendant with diagonal striations atop the chest. The circular head displays exasperated facial features such as gaunt, offset eyes with impressed pupils, shallow nasolabial folds on either side of the bar-shaped nose, and a narrow mouth. Anthropomorphic stone figures were typical votive pieces found throughout ancient Iberia as many were placed within temples or sanctuaries. However, figures with meticulously delineated characteristics like this example are rather unusual. Size: 1.375" W x 2.9" H (3.5 cm x 7.4 cm)

Provenance: private Keller collection, Marbury, Alabama, USA; ex-private Toro collection, Spain, acquired in the 1940s

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#154444

  • Condition: Minor nicks to body, head, peripheries, and verso, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to detailing across obverse.

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August 27, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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