Ancient Near East / Asia Minor, Anatolia, Kusura type, Early Bronze Age II, ca. 2700 to 2300 BCE. A hand-carved marble idol fragment of an intriguing, minimalist form with a rounded columnar body beneath a thick, tab-shaped 'head' protruding from the top. Each side of the head bears a single diagonal incision that creates a slight cleft, perhaps to delineate the neck and shoulders from the head itself. Votive idols like this example are known in a variety of fascinating forms throughout the pre-literate ancient world. From the truly abstract Kilia-type figures that are barely recognizable as human to the exaggerated feminine shaped of so-called "Venus" figures, people in the past had a clear desire to portray human forms without feeling necessarily constrained by naturalism. Size: 2.625" W x 4.75" H (6.7 cm x 12.1 cm)

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

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#154319

This is a fragment of a larger idol. Abrasions and encrustations to most surfaces, with minor softening to both incised striations on head, otherwise intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits and preservation to overall form.