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

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.1154)   « Less

In the Israel of biblical times, this elegant vessel might have held rare oils or fragrant perfumes. Perhaps it was left as a votive at the shrine of some powerful deity. As  More »

In the Israel of biblical times, this elegant vessel might have held rare oils or fragrant perfumes. Perhaps it was left as a votive at the shrine of some powerful deity. 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, we cross the bridge of time and set the imagination on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1731)   « 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.1155)   « 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.1156)   « Less

Context scene: Bull man, hornedanimal,twocrossedlions,twocrossedhornedanimals, bull-man.Terminal:discabovedoubleruling.Finecondition.Interpretationanddatingby  More »

Context scene: Bull man, hornedanimal,twocrossedlions,twocrossedhornedanimals, bull-man.Terminal:discabovedoubleruling.Finecondition.Interpretationanddatingby Prof.Lambert.-(LO.1088)Sumerian Cylinder Seal-LO.1088Circa:2500BCDimensions:1.25" (3.2cm) high Collection: Near Eastern Art Style: Early Dynastic IMedium:Dark veined stone   « Less

Throughout antiquity, the island of Cyprus was an important trading center at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping routes. Cypriot goods have been discovered as far west  More »

Throughout antiquity, the island of Cyprus was an important trading center at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping routes. Cypriot goods have been discovered as far west as Spain and as far east as India. The artisans of Cyprus were especially famed for their pottery, and this splendid vessel shows that reputation to be justified. Generous in size yet graceful in shape, it probably contained olives or perhaps figs-- two of the exports for which Cyprus was famed. Simple yet elegant, it continues to delight our senses even when empty. With time it has transcended its functional origins to achieve the status of art. - (PF.1989)   « Less