Description:

Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumer, city of Lagash, Neo-Sumerian period, reign of Gudea of Lagash, ca. 2120 to 2090 BCE. A nice example of a clay votive foundation cone bearing a tapered, conical body and a discoid head. Displayed around the body are 12 lines of cuneiform text that are inscribed using a sharpened stick or reed just before being placed inside a kiln. 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: 3.4" L x 2.2" W (8.6 cm x 5.6 cm)

For a similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 45.90.

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.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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.

#155532

  • Condition: Lower tip of body missing. Nicks and abrasions to body and head, with light encrustations, and fading to some cuneiform characters. Nice earthen deposits throughout. One TL drill hole atop discoid head.

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June 22, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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