Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture,  More »

Shaped like an abstract bird, this ancient votive seal was discovered with a cache of similar artifacts along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, these apparently were offerings at the shrine of some powerful nature god. The design that adorns them—of birds, animals, seated idols—probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Pressed into soft clay or wax, they would have created multiple images to win the favor of the god. It is possible that the bird, a recurring motif, was associated with the idea of the soul. Carved with abstract simplicity but an observant eye toward nature, the stark visual appeal of this piece is timeless. These seals represent dreams, hopes and aspirations for health, success, and happiness that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0003)Bird Effigy Votive Seal With An Intaglio - D.0003Origin: Lake Van,Anatolia Circa:4000BCto3000BCDimensions:2.875"(7.3cm) high x 3.75" (9.5cm) wide Collection: Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0004) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0004Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0005) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0005Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0006) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0006Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0007) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0007Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0008) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0008Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Origin: Egypt Circa: 650 BC to 550 BC Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynasty Medium: Wood and Cartonage Condition: Fine Isis is a  More »

Origin: Egypt Circa: 650 BC to 550 BC Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynasty Medium: Wood and Cartonage Condition: Fine Isis is a goddess in Egyptian mythology. She was most prominent mythologically as the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus, and was worshipped as the archetypical wife and mother. Her name literally means (female) of throne, i.e. Queen of the throne, which was portrayed by the emblem worn on her head, that of a throne. However, the hieroglyph of her name originally meant (female) of flesh, i.e. mortal, and she may simply have represented deified, historical queens. Her origins are uncertain but are believed to have come from the Nile Delta; however, unlike other Egyptian deities, she did not have a centralised cult at any point throughout her worship. First mentions of Isis date back to the Fifth dynasty of Egypt which is when the first literary inscriptions are found, but her cult became prominent late in Egyptian history, when it began to absorb the cults of many other goddesses. It eventually spread outside Egypt throughout the Middle East and Europe, with temples dedicated to her built as far away as the British Isles. Pockets of her worship remained in Christian Europe as late as the 6th century. - (FF.666A)   « Less

Egyptian Wooden Mask - DC.0706 Origin: Egypt Circa: 650 BC to 550 BC Dimensions: 9" (22.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynasty Medium: Wood Condition:  More »

Egyptian Wooden Mask - DC.0706 Origin: Egypt Circa: 650 BC to 550 BC Dimensions: 9" (22.9cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynasty Medium: Wood Condition: Fine   « Less

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of  More »

This elegant abstract figure was part of a cache discovered along the shores of Lake Van. Evoking the dawn of Western culture, it was originally an offering at the shrine of some powerful deity. Surprisingly modern in its stark simplicity, it almost certainly represents the person, an initiate to the cult, who gave it centuries ago as a gift to the god. It also served as an intaglio stamp, grasped in the hand and pressed into soft clay or wax to make multiple images. The design that adorns it probably stood in proxy for more costly sacrifices. Perhaps the only clue to an ancient life, this haunting votive recalls hopes, dreams and aspirations that are as old as civilization itself. - (D.0009) Votive Figure With An Intaglio - D.0009Origin: Lake Van, Anatolia Circa: 4000 BC to 3000 BCDimensions: 5.125" (13.0cm) high x 1.125" (2.9cm) wide Collection:Near Eastern Style: Neolithic Medium: Dickite   « Less

Egyptian Wooden Funerary Mask - EM.001 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynastic Period Medium:  More »

Egyptian Wooden Funerary Mask - EM.001 Origin: Egypt Circa: 600 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 8" (20.3cm) high Collection: Egyptian Art Style: Late Dynastic Period Medium: wood Condition: Extra Fine   « Less