Loading, please wait...

Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge

Details

LOT 0186

Early Bronze Age Silver Idol

CIRCA 2800-2100 B.C.

2 1/2 in. (6.87 grams, 63 mm).

With round female body and short neck, depicted armless, perforated with two parallel holes at the top for suspension; the edges and the centre embossed with dots.

Provenance

From a private family collection formed since the early 19th century, thence by descent.
Property of a New Zealand legal professional.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12319-223722.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Literature

Cf. for similar idols in marble, Bilgi, Ö., Anthropomorphic Representations in Anatolia before the Classical Age, Istanbul, 2014, figs.736-737; for metallic idols of very similar (although not completely identical) shape see idem, fig.653, p.241; see also Hoddinott, R.,F., The Thracians, London, 1981, pp.20-21, fig.8, especially nos.10, 23, 31; Zimmermann, B., ‘Anatolia and the Balkans, once again - Ring-shaped idols from Western Asia and a critical reassessment of some 'early bronze age' items from İki̇ztepe, Turkey’ in Oxford Journal of Archaeology 26 (1), pp.25-33, fig.2 no.9, for similar.

Footnotes

These idols have a broad chronological and spatial range, with late variants known from Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age burial contexts in central Europe and Western Asia. Some of these idols have round bodies, and heads in the form of tabs. They developed from the earlier stone idols, leading to the representation of the human form becoming even more stylised when crafted in silver or copper.

CONDITION

VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

LOT 0186

Early Bronze Age Silver Idol

Estimate £1,500 - 2,000€1,740 - 2,320 (for guidance only)$2,030 - 2,700 (for guidance only)

Print page

RELATED LOTS

  • Bactrian Stone Disc with Animals
    Bactrian Stone Disc with Animals
    2nd-1st millennium B.C.

    Estimate: £400 - 600 (+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £200

    Plano-convex in section with central recess, frieze of animals to the border including ibex, zebu, boar and others. 287 grams, 97 mm



    Ex London, UK, gallery, 1971-early 2000s. London, UK, collection. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

  • Old Babylonian Terracotta Cuneiform Tablet, Dated to the Seventh Year of King Amar-Suen
    Old Babylonian Terracotta Cuneiform Tablet, Dated to the Seventh Year of King Amar-Suen
    21st century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340

    Pillow-shaped tablet containing a record of administrative records for arrears owed by Lugal-Ishtaran from the Bala-Offerings, at the end of day 15, it is dated to the year seven of King Amar-Suen, one side with a seal impression showing a man fighting with a rampant lion, possibly depicting Gilgamesh, cuneiform text behind the beast; the other side with cuneiform text overlapped by a seal impression in two registers showing advancing offerants with their arms raised; supplied in an old box with typed collection label to the cover. 40 grams, 45 mm



    Found at Jokha, the ruin of the ancient city of Umma in Central Babylonia. Ex Edgar J. Banks (1866-1945). Purchased by Dr John Harvey Kellogg (1852-1943); by family descent to consignor. Edgar Banks was a diplomat and archaeologist upon whom the fictional character of Indiana Jones was based. Dr J.H. Kellogg was the founder of the Battle Creek Sanitarium and inventor of the Corn Flake. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

  • Achaemenid Turquoise Blue Glass Bead Necklace String
    Achaemenid Turquoise Blue Glass Bead Necklace String
    6th-4th century B.C. and later

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £98

    A designer necklace composed of various beads and restrung to a Y-shape, central feature comprising a large melon and an annular bead. 11.4 grams, 33 cm



    Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list