Ancient Anatolian Marble Kusura Type Idol

The Kusura-type idols represent a fascinating example of early abstract art from Bronze Age Anatolia, dating to approximately 2700-2100 BCE. This highly schematic sculpture is characterized by its distinctive geometric forms, a disc-shaped head, a long, tapering neck, a wide, spade-shaped or pouch-shaped body, and a crescent-shaped lower body section.

These idols demonstrate remarkable abstraction for their time period:
They coexisted with more naturalistic human depictions, showing an intentional choice toward geometric abstraction.  The forms are thought to represent highly stylized female figures, likely associated with fertility and religious practices.  Their abstract geometric style would later inspire 20th-century modernist artists like Brancusi, Modigliani, and Henry Moore.

The idol served important cultural and religious functions and were primarily used as votive offerings and grave gifts, found in sanctuaries and tombs.  Most complete examples show breaks across the neck, suggesting they were ritually "killed" during burial ceremonies.
They represent part of a broader tradition of idol-making across the Eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age.  

These artifacts have been found throughout ancient Anatolia having originated from the village of Kusura in southeastern Turkey.  They were part of a larger family of abstract idols that included the Kilia and Beycesultan types.

The Kusura idols represent one of humanity's earliest experiments with geometric abstraction in art, demonstrating sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities thousands of years before the modern art movement would rediscover similar principles of form.

Size  5-3/8 inches (13.6 cm) Height + custom mount

Provenance: Dominique and John de Menil Collection, New York.