A MESOPOTAMIAN LAPIS LAZULI, LIMESTONE AND BLACK STONE EYE INLAY

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

Details

A MESOPOTAMIAN LAPIS LAZULI, LIMESTONE AND BLACK STONE EYE INLAY
SYRIAN, EARLY DYNASTIC, CIRCA 2550-2250 B.C.
From a composite figure, the thick lapis lazuli lid naturalistically carved, tapering at the inner canthus and outer edge, bevelled on the interior to conform to the white stone sclera, the sclera drilled to receive the black stone pupil
2¾ in. (7 cm.) long

Provenance

European Private Collection, 1975.

Lot Essay

The size of this eye indicates that it belonged to a large human or animal composite figure. For a small human face in white limestone preserving similar eye inlays see no. 105 in Aruz, et al., eds., Art of the First Cities, The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus.

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