Description:

Near East, Syro-Hittite, ca. 2800 to 1500 BCE. A hand-built pottery female figure or goddess, perhaps Astarte, with a simple physical form and donning a voluminous mantle and skirt with a shawl across her shoulders. She has a stylized face that is instantly recognizable as from this period, presenting a prominent nose and very large round eyes and topped by a headdress/coiffure. The design of the eyes relates to the common motif throughout the Ancient Near East that eyes must be wide and attentive to show religious devotion. A very nice example with remains of blue and white pigment on the surface. Size: 2.5" W x 4.375" H (6.4 cm x 11.1 cm)

Astarte is the goddess who is also known as Ishtar in some parts of Mesopotamia, a goddess associated with femininity, motherhood, and war. If this figure does indeed represent Astarte, she departs from the usual slender form with her very ample garment.

Provenance: private New Jersey USA collection, acquired over twenty years ago

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#121553

  • Condition: Repaired from multiple pieces (head, back legs, skirt and part of shawl reattached). Expected surface wear with pigment loss commensurate with age. Nice mineral deposits.

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June 8, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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