Imposing eye idol from Mesopotamia
€15,400
available
Object number
AR3398
| Object: |
Northern Mesopotamian eye idol
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| Material: |
Light marble.
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| Period: |
Approx. 3500 BC to 3000 BC. Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age of Mesopotamia. |
| Description: |
Idol with bell-shaped massive stone body. Two rings attach directly at the top, arranged next to each other like spectacles. It is a highly stylized pair of eyes sitting on the body, which is also highly stylized. A magnificent specimen of imposing size for this type of idol. |
| Background: |
The idol type originates in northern Mesopotamia. Most famous for eye idols are those found at the eye temple of Tell Brak in northern Syria. For the piece offered here, however, the style points to a place 100km away. The fine workmanship and the clear lines are reminiscent of two pieces from Tepe Gawra, in what is now northern Iraq. Eye idols are very popular in collections. The modern-looking degree of abstraction certainly contributes to this. Most figures are only around 5cm high, but there are larger specimens of 10cm or even 20cm height. The larger idols are rare. They are particularly sought after because they appear imposing due to their massive body and are therefore well suited for an exhibition. |
| Dimensions: |
10.5cm height. Oval cross-section body with 6.0cm to 6.6cm lengths of the axes.
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| Condition: |
Great condition. One eye restored, part of the arch broken out and professionally reattached. The other eye with two small ancient nicks, no modern damage. Beautiful, sintered surface. Impressive piece.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the German art market in 2022. Previously in the German collection D.-U. Acquired into the collection in the 1980ies or earlier, probably on the art market.
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| References: |
For pieces from Tepe Gawra see: - Ebnoether collection at the Allerheiligen museum, 1999 catalogue, p. 22. - Galerie Christoph Bacher, ref. no. 6422 or Antikenkabinett Gackstaetter, list no. 01737. For eye idols of different sizes on the art market see: - Christie's London auction 7 October 2010, lot 66 (5.3cm high; sold for 8,125 GBP, equivalent to 9,700 EUR at the time). - Christie's New York auction 13 June 2000, lot 433 (20.6cm high; sold for 28,200 USD, equivalent to 28,000 EUR at the time). |
| Literature: |
S. Yaylali, Eye Idols and the Example from Pirot Höyük, in Cedrus II (2014), p. 1 to 26.
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| Authenticity: |
We unconditionally guarantee the authenticity of every artefact, all items are subject to our lifetime return policy on authenticity.
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