LOT 0289

Neo-Assyrian Stone Relief with Standing Figure

9TH-8TH CENTURY B.C.

9 5/8 in. (2.81 kg, 24.3 cm).

Corner fragment from a high-relief pictorial panel with raised border; domed dais with low-relief scaled detailing; lower legs and sandaled feet in advancing pose with ankle-length open-fronted robe, horizontal woven texture and curled fleece; high-relief stele with flared base, bulbous upper and sugar-loaf finial; pitted surface, with tooling to reverse.

Ex German collection, c.1980.
with Toufic Arakji, Hamburg, 1997.
Private collection, Europe.

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 no.12579-232134.

Cf. similar costumes and sandals in Directorate General of Antiquities, Assyrian Costumes, Les Costumes Assyriens, Baghdad, 1971, figs.2, 7, 8, 9 (Ashurnasirpal II), 28 (mythological hero), 29 (priest); Houston, M.G., Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian & Persian costume, London, 1954 (2002), fig.130; see also Assyrian cultic scene in Budge, E.A.W., Assyrian Sculptures in the British Museum, Reign of Ashur-nasir-pal, 885-890 B.C., London, 1914, pl. XI & LIII.4 & LIII.7.

Stylistically, the figure seems to be linked to the kingdom of Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 B.C.) or his son Shalmaneser III (858-824 B.C.). The exposed lower leg with exaggerated musculature is seen in many Assyrian and Babylonian depictions of divine and heroic figures. The position of the figure, corresponding to some reliefs kept in the Louvre, where a spirit is worshipping a poppy flower (Houston, 1954, pl.V.1), and the high-relief carving, strongly refer to a cult scene.