Ancient Near East, Sumeria, ca. late 2nd to early 1st millennium BCE. A powerful depiction of a human figure riding a bull, a symbol of royalty in Sumerian art. Bulls were linked to Enlil, the god of air and storms and the supreme god of fertility; earthly rulers regarded themselves as the stewards of the bull god, and they incorporated the horns - so nicely displayed here - into their royal crowns. Pottery plaques are one of the best preserved small art forms from ancient Mesopotamia, and give us a glimpse into religious practices and what people valued; they were often kept in the home, perhaps on a personal altar. Size: 4.8" W x 3.05" H (12.2 cm x 7.7 cm); 4.15" H (10.5 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#131346

Stable crack on one side, otherwise in very nice condition. Really nice surface deposits, especially on one side, and good preservation of motif.