Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumer, city of Lagash, Neo-Sumerian Period, reign of Gudea of Lagash, ca. 2120 to 2090 BCE. A fine pair of hand-built pottery foundation cones with tapered, conical bodies and discoid heads. Though the translations are identical, one cone bears 12 lines of impressed cuneiform text, while the other bears 13 lines. When translated each 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 of each (both are relatively similar): 4.4" L x 2.2" W (11.2 cm x 5.6 cm)

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#138554

  • Condition: Both items have minor nicks and abrasions to bodies and discoid heads, with light encrustations, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits and remains of cuneiform characters. TL drill hole atop both discoid heads.

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June 2, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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