SYRO-HITTITE TERRACOTTA STATUETTE

Ca. 2800 - 1500 BC A handmade Syro-Hittite terracotta figure of the goddess Astarte, with a broad physical form below the shoulders and the arms. The goddess wears a necklace and crown and has a stylised face that is instantly recognisable from this period. A large, thin nose, concentric circular eyes, incised brows, and a flared headdress imbue the figure with an abstract avian look. The design of the eyes relates to the common motif throughout the ancient Near East that eyes must be wide and attentive to show religious devotion. Astarte is the goddess who is also known as Ishtar in some parts of Mesopotamia, a goddess associated with femininity, motherhood, and war. For similar see: Christie's, Live Auction 9272, The Heidi Vollmoeller collection, lot. 353.
Size: 150mm x 55mm; Weight: 90g
Provenance: Private London collection, acquired on the Dutch art market; Ex. Dutch collection, collected between 1960-1980's

Estimate: GBP 300 - 600