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Details

LOT 1108

Old Babylonian Terracotta Plaque from Nippur

LEVANT, CIRCA 1900-1600 B.C.

4 1/4 in. (5 1/4 in.) (116 grams total, 10.7 cm high (13.5 cm high including stand)).

Plano-convex in section with moulded offering scene depicting a man advancing to his left whilst holding out an animal, probably a goat, with four protruding legs; mounted on a custom-made stand. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Acquired 1970s-1980s.
Ex Paul S. Forbes collection, Maryland, USA.
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.

Footnotes

Terracotta plaques of this sort were mass- produced from moulds and represented a form of art available to a wide audience. They have been excavated in temples as well as in household shrines and private homes, and give us a mysterious glimpse into religious practices and the ideas that people valued. Their subject matter varies widely, including religious images, mythological and erotic scenes, and representations of rulers and gods.

CONDITION

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AUCTIONS:

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LOT 1108

Old Babylonian Terracotta Plaque from Nippur

Sold for (Inc. bp): £260

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