Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Sumer, ca. 2500 to 2200 BCE. A hand-carved torso from the figurine of a man with his hands clasped in prayer or reverence before his chest, rendered in a creamy white stone. He is nude from the waist up, and remains of linear incised markings his waist band or skirt are present just under his hands. The head is shaven, but he has an impressive and long triangular beard that frames his visage: full lips, protruding nose, wide pupils deeply drilled into the surface that may have once contained inlaid stones. Shaven heads were symbols of purity and may have represented a priest or other devoted follower. Such statues were carved to represent specific people and placed in temples to continuously pray on the behalf of the person they represented to ensure benevolence from the gods. Size: 2" L x 1.5" W (5.1 cm x 3.8 cm); 4.25" H (10.8 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: ex-private Idledale, Colorado, USA collection; ex-John B. Kendrick II collection, Denver, Colorado, USA acquired 1965 to 1990

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#173033

Torso is a fragment of a larger piece as shown. Chip to nose and minor abrasions and old chips to arms and high pointed areas. Light mineral and earthen encrustations on surface. Details are clear and well defined. Overall great condition.