Stylized Female Idol, Syro-anatolian Tradition, 1st Millennium Bc

Figure depicting a reclining female bust resting on a truncated conical base. The hands are placed on the chest in a symbolic, frontal gesture. The torso is adorned with a wide, arc-shaped necklace. The massive neck supports a head with concentric eyes and a projecting nose, lacking a mouth, a stylization typical of this type of production. The headdress, shaped like a slender cap, accentuates the overall verticality of the figure. Beige-orange terracotta with traces of white slip, in good overall condition, see photos. Syro-Anatolian tradition, Ancient Near East (Syro-Anatolian/Upper Mesopotamian assemblage), Iron Age, 1st millennium BC. Dimensions: 11.5 × 4.5 cm. Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Professor Morel, Paris. Auction, Bagnolet, December 16, 2016, lot 208 in the catalogue. Sold with a certificate of authenticity from expert S. Reynes and an invoice from Galerie Ocarina.* Shipping costs upon request. These small female figures were made in the regions of the ancient Near East during the first millennium BCE. Their simple form and frontal pose suggest a symbolic image rather than a realistic portrait. They are generally associated with votive or protective uses, possibly kept in private spaces, attesting to an ancient tradition where the human image served to express beliefs and everyday gestures.