Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumer, city of Lagash, Neo-Sumerian period, reign of Gudea of Lagash, ca. 2120 to 2090 BCE. A hand-built pottery votive foundation cone with a tapered body and a bulging discoid head. The tapered, conical body features 12 lines of inscribed cuneiform text which are formed by impressing a sharpened reed or stick into the still-wet clay. Foundation cones like this example were inscribed with prayers or praises for specific gods or rulers, and uninscribed cones were typically painted with vibrant pigments to protect against weathering. When translated this cone reads, "For Ningirsu, the mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, governor of Lagash, who built the Eninnu (temple) of Ningirsu, (also) built his Epa, the temple of seven sectors." Size: 4.75" L x 2.2" W (12.1 cm x 5.6 cm)

For a similar example, please see The Detroit Institute of Arts, accession number 1983.34

Provenance: ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#156529

  • Condition: Minor nicks to head and body and light softening to some cuneiform characters, otherwise intact and very good. Great remains of inscribed characters around body.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

July 16, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000