Large terra cotta female idol from Syria
€1,800
available
Object number
AR3421
| Object: |
Large terra cotta female idol from Syria
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| Material: |
Terra cotta.
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| Period: |
3rd Millennium BC to early 2nd Millenium BC. Bronze Age. |
| Description: |
The idol or figure is typical of the Bronze Age region of what is now northern Syria. It has a highly stylized, flat body, with summarily modeled feet and broad shoulders. The upper arms are not plastically formed, only the forearms and hands are visible under the breasts. The head is dominated by a large, beak-like nose. Above it are two large eyes and a headress with incised decoration. Instead of the ears there is an arrangement of four rings. The figure wears jewellery in the form of three wide chains around its neck. One of them with a punctuated, single-row circular decoration, the other two with incised decoration. The back is undecorated and flat. It is definitely a large and impressive figure of its kind. |
| Background: |
The characteristic, bird-like head of the Bronze Age idols from the region of Syria immediately catches the eye. There are numerous regional variations on this type of idol, with the bird's head being a constant. Both male and female idols are known. The purpose of the figures is not exactly known. As with other Bronze Age idol types, it is undecided whether the figures represent a god or a worshipper. In the latter case, the hand position in front of the chest is interpreted as a praying position. Finds are known in which the figures obviously served as a votive offering, often together with animal figures or chariot models. Other finds were made under floors. This evokes associations with household gods that have been handed down from the Old Testament as teraphim (e.g. Gen 31.19 ELB, 1 Sam 19.13 ELB and Hos 3.4 ELB). |
| Dimensions: |
24.6cm high. 7.7cm wide.
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| Condition: |
Broken in two at knee height and rejoined. The rest of the body intact. Some chips on the foot and hips, but they do not spoil the overall impression. Overall a very well preserved figure of this size. The figure can stand alone. An acrylic stand with a bronze bracket as a holder is included with the figure.
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| Provenance: |
Acquired by us on the US art market in 2022. Previously in the US private collection of Dr. David Girgenti. Acquired into his collection in 1983 from Dr. Harold F. Moore, USA. He inherited the family collection of his parents Harold and Mary Moore, USA. The Moore couple built up an extensive collection of antiquities and other art objects, with acquisitions mainly in the 1950ies.
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| References: |
Cf. G. Zahlhaas: Idole - Frühe Götterbilder und Opfergaben, p. 92 und pl. 28, cat. no. 38. For a very similar but smaller piece on the art market cf. Christie's London auction 20 April 2005, lot 75 (sold for 3120 GBP, equivalent to 4600 EUR at that time). |
| Literature: |
A very good and compact overview of the idols of the Mediterranean is given by G. Zahlhaas, Idole - Frühe Götterbilder und Offerings (exhibition catalogue of the prehistoric state collection of Bavaria Germany, volume 12, 1985).
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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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