Clay relief of a head in profile, the wavy dark hair kept backwards by a largehairband, the profile featuring a large open eye,asmallnoseandpronouncedlips,theearscarefully  More »

Clay relief of a head in profile, the wavy dark hair kept backwards by a largehairband, the profile featuring a large open eye,asmallnoseandpronouncedlips,theearscarefully modelled, the whole surface paintedwithmineralpigments.-(LO.1059)Terracotta Relief of a Head in Profile - LO.1059Origin: Central Asia Circa: 700BCto600BCDimensions: 7.3"(18.5cm)highx7.25(18.4cm)wide Collection:Near Eastern Art Style:Assyrian Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone and wood has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the simplest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint axe head in our hand, although it appears rough and crude, we are holding the nascent breath of the great civilization of Egypt. From such axe heads would eventually rise the pyramids. Tools allowed mankind to altar the natural settings and to create his own habitats. An axe head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could be used to chop wood or to carve meat from a fallen prey. This axe head represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to create something stronger and more durable. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people, slowly evolving from primitive axe heads into pyramids and temples. - (N.1118)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 1.625" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 3.75" (9.5cm) high x 1.625" (4.1cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone and wood has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the simplest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint axe head in our hand, although it appears rough and crude, we are holding the nascent breath of the great civilization of Egypt. From such axe heads would eventually rise the pyramids. Tools allowed mankind to altar the natural settings and to create his own habitats. An axe head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could be used to chop wood or to carve meat from a fallen prey. This axe head represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to create something stronger and more durable. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people, slowly evolving from primitive axe heads into pyramids and temples. - (N.1119)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 4.125" (10.5cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Dimensions: 4.125" (10.5cm) high x 1.5" (3.8cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone and wood has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the simplest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint axe head in our hand, although it appears rough and crude, we are holding the nascent breath of the great civilization of Egypt. From such axe heads would eventually rise the pyramids. Tools allowed mankind to altar the natural settings and to create his own habitats. An axe head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could be used to chop wood or to carve meat from a fallen prey. This axe head represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to create something stronger and more durable. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people, slowly evolving from primitive axe heads into pyramids and temples. - (N.1120)   « Less

In antiquity, there was a thriving trade between the island of Cyprus and the coast of Palestine. The graceful curving form of this vessel seems to convey the lively spirit  More »

In antiquity, there was a thriving trade between the island of Cyprus and the coast of Palestine. The graceful curving form of this vessel seems to convey the lively spirit of the people through whose hands it passed so long ago. We remember that these were individuals who laughed and sang, talked, argued and loved. In appearance, they were similar to us, though their vision of the world was vastly different. This charming bilbil--which perhaps held oil, wine or medicinal opium--links us directly to that ancient world. Our hands rest where other hands did in Biblical times; the energy, the bond, is there to be felt. - (P.2794)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1151)   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1152)   « Less

This beautiful terracottaheadwasmadeinoneof Central Asia’smostdynamicandfascinating periods, when the mighty forces of east and west were coming into full contact in  More »

This beautiful terracottaheadwasmadeinoneof Central Asia’smostdynamicandfascinating periods, when the mighty forces of east and west were coming into full contact in the wake of Alexander’s Empire. It bears characteristics of both endemic (Afghanistan and Bactria) and western (Greek and Mediterranean) styles.Thepieceistruncatedattheneck, andwouldonecehavebeenpartofalargesculptureorfrieze.Thefaceisnaturalistic,fullcheeks, a high forehead, sensitive lips and alongnose.Thebrowsaretenderedgeometrically,as are the eyes, which have more in common with the eastern aesthetic in theirschematic reductivism. The ears are pierced with thick rings, beneath waves and ringlets. The head is tipped very slightly to theright,lendingareflectivesensitivity.The Greco-Bactrian Kingdom covered today's northern Afghanistan and partsof Central Asia,theeasternmost area of the Hellenistic world, from 250 to125BCE.Theexpansionofthe Greco-Bactrians into northern India from 180 BCE established the Indo-Greek Kingdom, which was to last until around 10 AD. This kingdom was highly urbanized andwaswidelyconsidered to be one of the richest of the Orient, expanding to the east and thewest.Thenumerous small city states and powers began to compete to marked cultural and stylisticdiversity. The artworks of Central Asia reflect this, and there are perhaps no finer examples than Greco- Bactrian portraiture like the current example. Theidentityofthepersonportrayed is uncertain, but is likely to represent a king or ancestor, that wouldhavebeendisplayed asasocialpointforthesocietyinquestion.Bactrian Royal Head-LO.1087Origin:Bactria/Afghanistan Circa: 250 BC to 125 BCDimensions: 11" (27.9cm) high Collection: Central Asia Style: Graeco-Bactrian Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 6000 BC to 4000 BC Collection: Egyptian Style: Neolithic Medium: Flint The creation of tools utilizing the natural environment is what distinguishes man from animal. What was once created using stone, wood, and bone has, over the centuries, evolved into metalworking and modern-day plastics. But it is the earliest tools, those carved from stone, which allowed mankind to conquer the natural environment and to prosper. Holding this flint arrowhead in our hand, delicately carved to a fine point thousands of years ago, we are holding the nascent breath of civilization. Tools allowed mankind to utilize his natural setting to its fullest potential, to altar the surroundings to suite his needs, and to create his own collective habitats that would eventually evolve into great cities. An arrowhead head like this one, when tied securely to a wooden shaft, could have been used to fell a fleeing prey or to spear a fish. As well, the delicate serrated edge could be used to cut and prepare the meat for cooking. This stone arrowhead represents the innate human drive to altar the environment, to innovate, and to conquer. It is in these earliest tools that we are able to witness the birth of civilization. From such tools, mankind learned to carve stones and rocks into new shapes and forms that suited the needs of the people evolving from arrowheads to temples. - (N.1153)   « Less

In the Israel of Biblical times, this vessel might have held ointments or oils, or perhaps an offering of food or drink. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple  More »

In the Israel of Biblical times, this vessel might have held ointments or oils, or perhaps an offering of food or drink. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple beauty, we are aware of the touch of other hands long ago. Who might have held it when it was new? Were the dreams and emotions that guided their lives so very different from our own? The vessel's graceful unadorned shape appeals as much to the contemporary eye as it did to the culture that created it. Such artifacts, ordinary enough in their own age, connect us in an intimate way with the world of the past. In its presence, the centuries melt away and the imagination sets out on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1590)   « Less