Antiquities and Ancient Art: A Study

Sale 1035

Live

| Chicago

May 26 | 11:00 AM EDT

Live

| Chicago

Lot 65

Lot 65

A Neo-Assyrian Hematite Pazuzu

Status:

Closed

Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000

Estimate$10,000 – $15,000

Status

Closed

A Neo-Assyrian Hematite Pazuzu

Circa 8th-7th Century B.C.

Height 2 1/4 inches (5.6 cm).

This lot is located in Chicago.

Provenance:

Art Market, Germany, 1990s.

Fortuna Fine Arts, Ltd., New York.

Note:

This finely executed and well-preserved stone head represents the grimacing demon Pazuzu. Pazuzu was renowned for protecting humans from plague and evil forces. In Mesopotamian mythology, Pazuzu is the son of Hanba and brother to Humbaba, the demon protector of the Cedar Forest in The Epic of Gilgamesh. Personified as the West Wind—known to bring drought and famine—Pazuzu is often invoked to fight the evil powers of the goddess Lamashtu, which harmed mothers and children during childbirth. Like this present example, many Pazuzu heads are discovered with drilled holes or loops. It is thought they were worn by pregnant women to protect their babies from evil forces.

Intact as preserved. Inspected under UV light and 10x loupe; nothing was revealed. Sediment within the crevices, surface abrasions, and minor chip to the back of the head. Minor hairline surface cracks at the base of the neck near the lower hole, not affecting the overall stability. The stylistic elements and features of the stone are well-preserved. Overall in very attractive and stable condition.

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Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

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Antiquities and Ancient Art: A Study

A Neo-Assyrian Hematite Pazuzu

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