A MESOPOTAMIAN SHELL INLAY

EARLY DYNASTIC III, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C.

Details

A MESOPOTAMIAN SHELL INLAY
EARLY DYNASTIC III, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C.
The thin plaque with the details incised, preserving a goddess standing in profile to the left wearing a long pleated garment, her bent right arm held out before her, holding a diadem(?) with three circular secondary bitumen inlays preserved, her left arm lowered behind gripping the wrist of a second figure, her shoulder-length hair and horned headdress both preserving secondary bitumen inlays, with a prominent nose and a large frontal eye beneath an arching brow, wearing a hoop earring
3 5/16 in. (8.4 cm.) high

Provenance

Dr. Elie Borowski.
The current owner's father received as a gift in 1965.

Lot Essay

Many inlaid compositions have been found in the temples and palaces of Mari and a number of other Mesopotamian cities, the most famous being the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Fabricated of ivory, shell, limestone, lapis lazuli and slate, inlays were set into bitumen and arranged into a mosaic of geometric patterns and figural friezes. Likely once decorating walls, floors and musical instruments, the scenes often depict mythological creatures, religious rituals, military exploits, and peace-time prosperity. For further discussion and examples see pp. 89-177 in Aruz, ed., Art of the First Cities, The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus.

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