Ancient Near East, probably Syria, ca. 9th to 8th century BCE. A well-carved stone bowl, made to be set into a wall or a tomb and have libations poured through it, with a thin-fingered hand cupped around the underside of the bowl and a flanged, wave form rim on the pipe that extends from one side of the bowl. The upper exterior of the bowl is carved with a rope-like motif immediately under the rim. Custom stand. Size: 3.9" L x 2.5" W x 1.65" H (9.9 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.2 cm); height on stand: 4.25" (10.8 cm).

Stone libation bowls have been found throughout the ancient Near East and ancient Mediterranean, but based on frequency of finds, they seem to have originated in the region of modern day Northern Syria. They vary in material used, and in stylistic complexity, of which this stone version is a fine example.

See a comparable item, with lion iconography instead of a hand, from the Christie's New York June 4, 2015 auction (Lot 157), that sold for $12500. For a similar example with a palmette on the bowl's base, see no. 233 in O.W. Muscarella, "Ladders to Heaven: Art Treasures from Land of the Bible."

Provenance: Ex-private East Coast, USA collection

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#120773

Intact, with some minor areas of surface encrustation. Iconography is in excellent condition.