Ancient Near East, modern Syria, Tell Brak, Late Uruk Period, ca. 3300 to 3000 BCE. An eye idol of monumental proportions, hand-carved from white limestone. The idol is defined by a flat base, a gently-tapering conical body, and a pair of conjoined, perforated circles which form the "eyes." One of the most famous artifact types from early Mesopotamia, eye idols were named in the 1930s by the British archaeologist Max Mallowan when he was excavating at the mound called Tell Brak. Mallowan found hundreds of small anthropomorphic items of similar form to this one, each with some kind of 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." Size: 8.625" W x 9" H (21.9 cm x 22.9 cm).

More recently, items like this one have been found beyond the Temple of the Eyes, leading French archaeologist Catherine Breniquet to speculate that examples like this one could have also been used for separating wool while spinning. The object would have been placed in front of a seated person who used the holes to separate two or three strands and then twist them together. Artwork on cylinder seals from Uruk seems to support this hypothesis. Other scholars have suggested they might have been lids for narrow jars or parts of a firedog. Examples of this size, however, are more nebulous when speculating about their purported use.

A stylistically-similar example, of a much smaller size and carved from gypsum, hammered for GBP 6,875 ($9,048.67) at Christie's, London, South Kensington Antiquities Auction (sale 5488, October 7, 2010, lot 68): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-syrian-gypsum-spectacle-idol-tell-brak-5358332-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5358332&sid=29b11485-d76b-43b5-ade1-56638bc60c75

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#137785

Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small losses to base, body, and eyes, with some yellowing to most surfaces. Nice earthen deposits throughout.