Large Syro-Hittite Terracotta Goddess Idol

With a tapering round-section shank, finial topped with a ram's head. 110 grams, 16.5 cm



From the collection of late George Withers, UK. Acquired from Dore and Rees, UK. Property of Mr A.B., an American collector.

The corpus of pins from Hasanlu includes simple plain pins, pins with lion's head and other zoomorphic pins. The zoomorphic pins were either cast onto a bronze shank or the pin was inserted into a hollow of the head. A third category was that of the pins cast in one piece, like our specimen, representing a goat or mouflon, an animal often depicted in the North-West Persian material culture.

Carved in the round, ellipsoid in plan with handle formed as a recumbent beast; underside with incised hatching; incised cross to one edge of the handle. 124 grams, 64 mm



Collected from 1970-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Modelled in the round standing with head raised, recurved horns or antlers, slender muzzle with mouth detailing, incised ring-and-dot motif to shoulders and hips; mounted on a custom-made stand. 69.2 grams total, 80 mm high including stand



London art market, 1978. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12263-220844.

Stylistically, the item shares features with the Hattian stag figurine found in the royal tombs in Alacahöyük (now in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey) and dating from the period 2100-2000 B.C. The use of ring-and-dot embellishments to the flanks is suggestive of some cultural continuity. The animal depicted is probably an ibex rather than a European stag. However, a date of manufacture in the period after the fall of the Hittite Empire in the 12th century B.C. seems more probable.