Ancient Near East, The Levant, Tell Brak, Middle Uruk Period, ca. 3700 to 3500 BCE. An abstract gray stone idol of conjoined figures carved with flat bodies surmounted by elliptical heads that each contain a pair of well defined, incised eyes under arched brows. Their bodies are plaque-like, square aside from sloping shoulders and a V-shaped depression carved below the head, giving the impression of a neckline. These idols were used for dedication to an all seeing god who watched over the populations of early Mesopotamia. They have been excavated from a building we call the Eye Temple; many are incised with multiple sets of eyes and other have "children" - smaller eyes and body carved on the body of the larger idol. Wide eyes meant attentiveness to the gods in Mesopotamian art, and the thought "two pairs of eyes are better than one" may have been applied to this intriguing pair! Size: 1.625" W x 1.5" H (4.1 cm x 3.8 cm); custom display stand included.

These "eye idols" were named in the 1930s by the British archaeologist Max Mallowan when excavating at the Tell Brak mound, where he found hundreds of small anthropomorphic items of similar form to this one - a simplified body topped by huge discs for eyes and no other discernible facial features. He named the place where he found them "The Temple of the Eyes." Archaeologists believe that these idols were placed there as offerings, as wide eyes meant religious attentiveness and devotion to the gods in Mesopotamian art.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 51.59.6

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Brooklyn, New York, USA collection, acquired from David Libert at Time Machine Gallery, Queens, New York, USA, auction #4, 2004

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#170399

One head is repaired with visible break line from neck to shoulder as shown. Surface wear to bodies with chips and small losses as expected with age. Great preservation to incised eyes and light mineral deposits.