{"title":"Ancient Near East","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Ancient Near East stands as the cradle of civilization, encompassing the remarkable artistic traditions of Mesopotamia, Persia, Anatolia, and the Levant spanning from the Neolithic period through the Sassanian Empire. Art For Eternity Gallery offers a curated selection of authentic antiquities from these storied cultures—from Sumerian and Babylonian cylinder seals and cuneiform tablets to Achaemenid metalwork, Luristan bronzes, and elegant vessels of the ancient world. Each piece in our collection has been carefully researched for provenance and authenticity, reflecting millennia of human ingenuity in sculpture, ceramics, glyptic arts, and metalworking. Whether you are a seasoned collector or newly discovering the artistic achievements of these foundational civilizations, we invite you to explore works that once graced the palaces, temples, and households of the ancient world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"well-provenanced-mesopotamian-cuneiform-foundation-cone","title":"Well Provenanced Mesopotamian Cuneiform Foundation Cone","description":"\u003cp\u003eOld Babylonian Period, circa 1900-1700 BC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUruk, Babylonia (Warka, Iraq)\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eInscribed in Sumerian cuneiform with a palace dedication inscription of King Sin-Kashid of Uruk (1865-1833 B.C.), the text known as Sin-Kashid E4.4.1.3\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 5 cm H. x 2. 5 cm W.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTranslation:  Sîn-ka id, mighty man, king of\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUruk, king of the Amnanum (tribe), provider of\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEanna (= the temple of the goddess Inanna-Ishtar\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eat Uruk), built his royal palace.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEx NY private Collection, acquired  at Christie's NY Sale 1769, The History of the Book: The Cornelius J. Hauck (1893-1967) Collection, June 27-28th 2006, lot 1 part.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45351169163578,"sku":"13849","price":3450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/13849BL.jpg?v=1694282669"},{"product_id":"ancient-persian-alabaster-twin-handled-jar-with-ibexes","title":"Ancient Egyptian Alabaster Twin Handled Jar with Ibexes","description":"\u003cp\u003eCirca mid 2nd Millennium BC. New Kingdom\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quality luxury vessel, well made with​ thin walls so as to be translucent under light.  This banded alabaster amphora, once with twin arched handles with twin ibexes under each handle. Pierced for suspension and holes in animal heads at ear level suggests separately made and inserted horns to complete an elaborate composition.​ Condition: damages and losses to rim and handle. Was once a spectacular luxury item.​\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: ​6-1\/4 inches height.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance:  Ex Collection of Jay I. Kislak; Miami Florida.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45524101792058,"sku":"15135","price":6500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/15135bl.jpg?v=1694477972"},{"product_id":"south-arabian-abstract-alabaster-stone-male-head","title":"South Arabian Abstract Alabaster Stone Male Head","description":"\u003cp\u003eSouth Arabian (Qataban \/ Saba), Yemen, circa 3rd century B.C. – 1st century A.D.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA powerfully abstracted ancient South Arabian funerary head, carved in finely translucent honey-cream calcite-alabaster from the great caravan kingdoms of pre-Islamic Yemen. The artist has reduced the human face to a striking sequence of confident planar volumes: a broad domed forehead descending into wide, gently arched brows; a narrow angular ridge-nose; large almond-shaped eye sockets recessed deeply to receive now-lost inlays of shell, limestone and bituminous paste; an ovoid, slightly parted mouth; and small protruding lug-form ears. The reverse is left flat and roughly hewn, exactly as expected for this class of object.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize:  7 inches H. x 5-1\/2 inches W. + custom pedestal block base.  Provenance: NYC collection, ex. New York Trade  #8733 on back. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeads of this type are among the most iconic productions of the South Arabian funerary tradition and are most often associated with the great cemetery of Hayd ibn 'Aqil at Tamna', capital of the kingdom of Qataban. Each head was originally fitted with gypsum plaster into a rectangular niche high on an inscribed limestone funerary stele, which would have named the deceased and recorded their lineage; comparable complete examples are illustrated as nos. 277–287 in St John Simpson, Queen of Sheba: Treasures from Ancient Yemen (British Museum). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe radical simplification of feature and the geometry of the planes have long made these heads favorites of modernist collectors — figures like Brâncuși, Modigliani, and Giacometti drew directly on this same reductive Arabian visual vocabulary, and the piece reads as compellingly today as a 20th-century sculpture as it does as a 2,000-year-old votive.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45715519144250,"sku":"15104","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/15104blrjpg.jpg?v=1778974767"},{"product_id":"canaanite-limestone-senet-like-limestone-gaming-board","title":"Canaanite Limestone Senet like Gaming Board","description":"\u003cp\u003eHolyland Mid 2nd Millennium BC, time of Abraham.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarved stone slab with three rows of circular depressions, each row flanked on each side by a straight line. Rudimentary crisscross decoration in the margins. During this time there was an increasing urbanization thanks to the expansion of agriculture and trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Egyptians played a sophisticated game on a board with paying pieces called senet which is surely an influence for this localized game.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 8-2\/3 inches (20.6 cm). Length + custom mount. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Private prominent New York collector Daryl Kulok, acq in Jerusalem from Leonard Wolfe 2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45716465975610,"sku":"13807","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/13807bl.jpg?v=1694286854"},{"product_id":"fine-holy-land-steatite-carved-libation-spoon","title":"Fine Syrian Steatite Carved Libation Spoon","description":"\u003cp\u003eIron Age, Circa 800 BC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA well carved dark brown stone ceremonial implement with a cylindrical shaft opening into a rounded spoon shape reservoir. An ornately crafted decorative pattern under rim and a naturalistic hand holding up the spoon.  To be set into a separately made handle. Choice and rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 4-1\/2 in L. x 1-3\/8 inches H.+ custom mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCp similar example in the Joseph Turnbach Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex prominent NY collector Daryl G Kulok Coll. Acquired 2000s in Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45974781821242,"sku":"13909","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/13909blu.jpg?v=1763678725"},{"product_id":"near-eastern-alabaster-piriform-lidded-jar","title":"Near Eastern Alabaster Piriform Lidded Jar","description":"\u003cp\u003e Canaanite, Late Bronze Age  Ca 1500 BC  A good size alabaster or travertine vessel with pyriform body on a flat base and with a flaring wide disk rim, and with a circular indented lid, the interior preserving extensive solidified remains of unguents.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 6 inches H. x 5-1\/2 inches W. Condition: Multiple repairs to rim and lid. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance Ex Daryl Kulok NY Collection Acquired 2000s from Barakat gallery, Old city Jerusalem with a copy of the Certificate Of Authenticity. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47543241933114,"sku":"14031","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/14031_7758099f-8966-4277-b24b-7b30dad29b4f.jpg?v=1705694886"},{"product_id":"jemdet-nasr-marble-back-to-back-bulls-stamp-seal","title":"Jemdet Nasr Marble Addorsed Mouflons Stamp Seal","description":"\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\" id=\"model-response-message-contentr_001076a731caf003\" class=\"markdown markdown-main-panel tutor-markdown-rendering stronger enable-updated-hr-color\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRare Jemdet Nasr Period Stamp Seal: Adorsed Mouflons with Abstract Animal Symbols (Mesopotamia, c. 3100 - 2900 BC)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis exceptional stamp seal, dating to the Jemdet Nasr Period in Mesopotamia (circa 3100 - 2900 BC), is skillfully carved from a creamy-colored stone. The intricately rendered form depicts two mouflons, a type of wild sheep, in an \"adorsed\" position – meaning they are placed back to back. Each animal features deeply drilled circular eyes and gracefully curved horns, showcasing the artisan's attention to detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse side of the seal, designed for impressing into clay, is inscribed with compelling abstract animal symbols, making this piece not only an artifact of significant historical value but also a miniature work of art. Such seals were vital administrative tools in early Mesopotamian societies, used to mark ownership, authenticate documents, and secure goods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe seal is intact and in excellent condition, displaying minimal wear consistent with its great age. It is pierced for suspension, indicating it would have been worn or carried, though the suspension hole currently contains compacted soil.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLength: 2 inches (5.08 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and excellent. Pierced for suspension, with compacted soil in the hole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx-Brooklyn, NY Collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcquired from David Liebert, Time Machine, Queens, NY in the 2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSignificance:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJemdet Nasr Period:\u003c\/b\u003e A pivotal period in Mesopotamian history, characterized by the development of early writing (proto-cuneiform) and complex administrative systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStamp Seals:\u003c\/b\u003e Crucial for economic and administrative control, used to identify property and authenticate transactions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eZoomorphic Forms:\u003c\/b\u003e Animals often held symbolic or religious significance in ancient Mesopotamian art and beliefs, though the precise meaning of the mouflons in this context may be open to interpretation, perhaps related to fertility, strength, or specific deities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48979403669818,"sku":"16232","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16232bl.jpg?v=1719666771"},{"product_id":"tell-brak-serpentine-eye-idol","title":"Tell Brak Serpentine Miniature Eye Idol","description":"\u003cp\u003ecirca 3500 to 3300 BC  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbstract carved stone conical body surmounted by two deep circular open eyes. These idols were used for dedication to an all seeing god who watched over the populations of early Mesopotamia and a female depiction is extremely unique. Intact.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 1-5\/8 inches H. + 2-3\/8 inches on wood base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ex Brooklyn NY Collection. Shows wear and earth deposits, chip side one eye. \u003cbr\u003eCompare examples in 'Early Mesopotamia and Iran' by M.E.L. Mallowan, pages 46 to 50. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48988106817850,"sku":"16238","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16238blu_1573dc33-d3a5-4198-9d7b-796b58b2ff2a.jpg?v=1719933366"},{"product_id":"old-babylonian-alabaster-cylinder-seal","title":"Sumerian Inscribed Shell Cylinder Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003eMesopotamia Early Dynastic Circa 2700 to 2500  B.C.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCarved with heroes battling rampant animals. Inscription in field, pierced for suspension. Size: 1-1\/4 inches (3.17 cm) H. Intact. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex Brooklyn NY Coll, Acquired from David Liebert Time Machine Queens NY  2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48988123595066,"sku":"16228","price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16228blue.jpg?v=1771094508"},{"product_id":"anatolian-limestone-plank-idol","title":"Anatolian Limestone Plank Idol","description":"\u003cp\u003eNeolithic Period, Circa 4000 BC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowerful schematic flat plank shape figure, rounded head with schematic facial features and broad shoulders.    Overall earthen deposits and encrustation on the surface\u003cbr\u003eSize 2-3\/4 inches H. +  base\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Head repaired or else intact. rare!\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Ex Brooklyn NY Coll, Acquired from David Liebert Time Machine Queens NY  2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48996017340730,"sku":"16231","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16231blu.jpg?v=1719882665"},{"product_id":"mesopotamian-tan-geometric-stamp-seal","title":"Mesopotamian Tan Geometric Stamp Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003e 2nd Millennium BC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSquare face with cross-hatched lines, compact domed shape with drill hole for suspension. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 7\/8 inches L. x 7\/8 inches H.   Some small losses to one edge  and with earth deposits. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex Brooklyn NY Coll, Acquired from David Liebert Time Machine Queens NY  2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48996056727866,"sku":"16247","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16247bla.jpg?v=1719882806"},{"product_id":"old-babylonian-lapis-lazuli-cylinder-seal","title":"Sumerian Lapis Lazuli Cylinder Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003eEarly Dynastic II to III, c. 2700–2350 BC,  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 5\/8 inches (2 cm) L. Intact. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance:  Collection of David and Beverly Hall Billings, Nantucket, Massachusetts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition shows a dense, all-over interlocking criss-crossing contest or animal frieze which fill is the full height of the seal without a clear ground line or seated deity, characteristic of the Early Dynastic brocade style.  Comparable to published lapis examples at the Met, British Museum.  Pierced for suspension.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCylinder seals served multiple crucial functions in ancient Mesopotamian society:\u003cbr\u003eThey acted as personal identification and professional credentials. They authenticated transactions and documents, similar to a modern signature. They prevented unauthorized access to containers and buildings.  They functioned as protective amulets and symbols of personal identity.\u003cbr\u003eThe use of lapis lazuli for this seal was deeply significant for several reasons:  Lapis lazuli was considered a divine material associated with the night sky and celestial realm.\u003cbr\u003eThe stone was believed to facilitate communication between mortals and deities.\u003cbr\u003eIn Mesopotamian cosmology, lapis lazuli was thought to be a constituent element of the physical night sky.  The stone's rarity and importation from distant Afghanistan made it highly valuable.  Its use in official seals demonstrated the owner's elevated social status.\u003cbr\u003eThe deep blue color with gold pyrite flecks symbolized success and divine connection.\u003cbr\u003eLapis lazuli's hardness made it suitable for detailed carving and repeated use and the stone's distinctive appearance helped prevent forgery. Its smooth surface allowed for clear impressions in clay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of a cylinder seal's administrative importance with the sacred properties of lapis lazuli created a powerful symbol of authority and divine sanction in ancient Mesopotamian society \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50410448257338,"sku":"16547","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16547bl.jpg?v=1734739430"},{"product_id":"ancient-anatolian-marble-kusura-type-idol","title":"Ancient Anatolian Marble Kusura Type Idol","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese idols demonstrate remarkable abstraction for their time period:\u003cbr\u003eThey 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003cbr\u003eThey represent part of a broader tradition of idol-making across the Eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize  5-3\/8 inches (13.6 cm) Height + custom mount\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Dominique and John de Menil Collection, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50534383452474,"sku":"16572","price":5000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16572sq.jpg?v=1737140850"},{"product_id":"elamite-terracotta-standing-fertility-goddess","title":"Elamite Terracotta Standing Fertility Goddess","description":"\u003cp\u003eBronze Age, circa 2nd Millennium BCE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA finely rendered terracotta goddess, standing with her hands holding her breasts; she is adorned with headdress, necklace, earrings,  fine symmetrical facial features including almond eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCf: The Royal City of Susa. Ancient Near Eastern Treasures in the Louvre. P.O. Harper, J. Aruz, and F. Tallon eds., New York, 1992, nos. 123-133.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 5-5\/8 in H.; 6-7\/8 on custom mount.  Head repaired; feet gone. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOld collection number penned behind151\/73.   Nice details.\u003cbr\u003eEx Coll Dr. Sid Port California; Ex Sotheby's NY 17 Dec 1998, lot 443\/part.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51154023547194,"sku":"16727","price":1450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16727blue.jpg?v=1744756010"},{"product_id":"sumerian-stone-standing-orant","title":"Sumerian Stone Standing Orant","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEarly Dynastic I-II Date: ca. 2900 to 2600 BCE.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBeautifully rendered fragmentary standing figure in gypsum stone, probably from a temple shrine, wearing a pleated garment with arms protruding from sleeves and folded across chest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient Sumerians dedicated statues of themselves to their gods, placing them before the divine image in the temple. The posture of the votive statues, with hands clasped against the chest, ensured that they remained in constant prayer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize: 5-7\/8 in H. + custom base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition: Head, feet and hand gone... Surface encrusted and with some high point losses.... \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEx Brooklyn Private Coll Collection, Acq 2000s from David Libert, Time Machine NY, published in his black and white mail auction 12, January 9th 2003, lot M1.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRare.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51253139898682,"sku":"16711","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16711blu.jpg?v=1746404404"},{"product_id":"syro-hittite-north-terracotta-votive","title":"Syro Hittite Terracotta Votive Figure","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ancient Near East, circa 2nd Millennium BC.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuff pottery abstract pinched pottery seated on a bench with arms in lap, cap-like headdress, fancy necklace, prominent cylindrical  pierced snout like nose, applied donut eyes and ear ornaments. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSize 3-3\/8 in H. + black base. repaired. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEx NY city Photographer Carl Fischer, Acq 1970s. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51255003021626,"sku":"16617","price":785.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/16617bla.jpg?v=1746447076"},{"product_id":"ancient-holyland-aramaic-devil-trap-incantation-bowl","title":"Ancient Holyland Aramaic Devil Trap Incantation Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003e Circa 5th to 7th Century AD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA terracotta bowl with Judaean-Aramaic inscriptions. The buff clay bowl with flat circular base, the interior inscribed in Judeo-Aramaic with a multiple line spiral incantation, painted in black ink, the text invoking the departure of evil spirits from the house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6-1\/2 inches Diam.  x 3 inches H.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance:  Collection Of Joel Warren Texas; Acquired in the USA Market past 20 years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52325562450234,"sku":"17192","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17192blu.jpg?v=1765400266"},{"product_id":"ancient-near-eastern-bronze-axe-head-with-hunt-scene","title":"Ancient Near Eastern Bronze Axe Head With Hunt Scene","description":"\u003cp\u003eLuristan type, Circa 1st Millennium BC \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCast bronze shaft hole axe head with a lion and his prey, a deer seated on the terminal edge. Crescent shape blade on other side.  Size 4 3\/4 x 3 3\/4 inches L + custom presentation base. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis ornate axe head was intended as a ceremonial or prestige weapon rather than a utilitarian tool.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Private collection, bought via London Art Market previously in a 1990s UK collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52980078903610,"sku":"17198","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17198blu.jpg?v=1770306247"},{"product_id":"tell-brak-stone-double-eye-idol","title":"Tell Brak Stone Double Eye Idol","description":"\u003cp\u003eNorth Mesopotamia – Northeastern Syria, ca. 3500 to 3300 BC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Gypsum or yellowish colored stone carved cojoined figures of abstracted flattened form, with incised eyes and curved eyebrows, narrow neck, shoulders sloping to a broad body and flat base. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize  1-5\/8 inch (4.3 cm) Height.  x 2-3\/8 in (6.3 cm) W. + custom mount. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin the Tell Brak “eye idol” corpus, twin or double-headed examples are rare but well-attested and carry particular iconographic weight. Thousands of single figures are known from the Eye Temple deposits, whereas only a small subset show two heads or multiple sets of eyes, so a compact conjoined piece like yours sits toward the unusual, more notable end of the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the relative scarcity of double idols in a deposit otherwise dominated by single figures, a well-provenanced conjoined example like this would be considered a relatively significant, “textbook” specimen within the type—both academically and for collecting—rather than a routine Eye Temple votive\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Galerie Irene von Ohlendorf, Munich, Germany; Collection Kapustin (acquired in the 1960s\/70s) Ex Bernd Gackstätter, “Antiken-Kabinett”, Frankfurt a. M., Germany (2014)\u003cbr\u003eGerman Private Collection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompare examples in 'Early Mesopotamia and Iran' by M.E.L. Mallowan, pages 46 to 50. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53058984640826,"sku":"17283","price":3400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17283blu.jpg?v=1771534356"},{"product_id":"mesopotamian-terracotta-boar","title":"Mesopotamian Terracotta Boar","description":"\u003cp\u003e2nd Millennium BC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fine hollow molded corpulent boar with round body on four raised feet. head with long snout, twin pellet eyes, raised ears, incised mane and vent hole atop back. \u003cbr\u003eSize  3-3\/4 in L. x 25\/8 inhes H. good ancient patina and encrustations.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx Prominent  collector Daryl Kulok, 88 Greenwich Street NYC  acq 2000s\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53067247223098,"sku":"17342","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17342b.jpg?v=1771715622"},{"product_id":"mesopotamian-cuneiform-administrative-tablet","title":"Mesopotamian Cuneiform Administrative Tablet","description":"\u003cp\u003e Old Akkadian Period, 2340-2200 BC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSquare baked clay biscuit, double sided and impressed with reeds in cuneiform script; Translates as an administrative account of barley  delivered by six men and received by the official Di-Utu. Dated ‘year 2’ (regnal year of an unnamed ruler).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 1-3\/4 x 1-1\/2 inches.\u003cbr\u003eLosses to corner or else intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Private New York City Collection; Purchased in New York in the 1970's\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53159804338490,"sku":"17408","price":2350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17405bj.jpg?v=1773786737"},{"product_id":"sumerian-cuneiform-foundation-cone","title":"Sumerian Cuneiform Foundation Cone","description":"\u003cp\u003eEarly Dynastic Period in Mesopotamia inscribed for a temple in the city state of Lagash, Mesopotamia, circa  2310 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVotive cones of this type were pressed into the outer walls of Sumerian temples as foundation dedications, their inscribed bases facing outward to identify the ruler or official who commissioned the building. This example is inscribed in the name of Nam-makh-ni, Viceroy of Lagash, a high official of the Sumerian city-state during the late Early Dynastic period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccompanied by the original typed Schulman Collection identification label and original collector's photograph. Authenticated by the Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, November 21, 1969, as one of two Mesopotamian objects in the collection confirmed as undoubtedly authentic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSize 3-1\/16 inches Height   Condition: Very good, small age related crack\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEx Schulman Collection; acquired pre 1970 by a private Indiana collector. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53211553825082,"sku":"17386","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17386bl.jpg?v=1774475397"},{"product_id":"monumental-near-eastern-ceramic-storage-jar-pithos","title":"Monumental Near Eastern Ceramic Storage Jar Pithos","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wheel‑thrown in a buff clay with a thick cream slip over the exterior, the rounded everted rim forming a short neck above a broad ovoid body tapering to a pointed base. Three small, vertically pierced loop handles are set high on the shoulder to take suspension ropes or aid in lifting. Surfaces show patchy firing clouds in reddish‑brown and light greenish tones, with scattered earthen encrustation and worn slip consistent with long burial and ancient use. Reassembled from roughly six large fragments with associated minor fill and overpaint, the joins stable and unobtrusive; general surface wear, small chips and abrasions, all commensurate with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeep jars of this imposing scale were employed throughout the Levant for long‑term storage and commercial transport of substantial quantities of wine or olive oil, often set into a plastered floor or ship’s hold with the pointed base embedded for stability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a closely related large ovoid storage vessel with cream slip and shoulder handles, see Tallay Ornan, A Man and His Land: Highlights from the Moshe Dayan Collection, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1986\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight 34 in (86.4 cm), maximum diameter 27 in (68.6 cm); mounted on a modern ring base for display which adds 3 additional inches Ht.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex Daryl G. Kulok, New York, acquired in the 2000s, presumably in Israel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53244222177594,"sku":"14262","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/14262blu.jpg?v=1774896167"},{"product_id":"rare-ancient-luristan-bronze-face-mask","title":"Rare Ancient Luristan Bronze Face Mask","description":"\u003cp\u003eCentral Asia, circa 1st millennium B.C.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stylized hammered bronze face mask with sunken eyes, a raised 't' ridge for the brow-line and nose, the nostrils pierced and pierced holes around the edges for attachment, two long pins remaining in the neck. \u003cbr\u003eSize: 6 ½ in (17cm) high + custom mount.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: R. L., Belgium private collection, from the late 1950s onwards. Acquired at Bonham's Antiquities Saleroom, 1 May 2008, London, New Bond Street where it sold for £2,160 inc. premium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLuristan masks are extremely rare.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53266768331066,"sku":"17241","price":3750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17241blu.jpg?v=1775319210"},{"product_id":"large-judaean-aramaic-terracotta-inscribed-incantation-bowl","title":"Large Judaean Aramaic Terracotta Inscribed Incantation Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003eLate Antique Mesopotamia, Jewish Babylonian Aramaic, Sasanian period, circa 5th–7th century CE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn impressive bowl, the interior covered with spiraling lines of Judaean‑Aramaic script terminating in a central schematic figure, probably the bound demon addressed by the spell. The exterior with plain rounded rim and small ring foot, with vestigial applied lugs to either side.   Such bowls were buried inverted beneath house thresholds or in courtyards to protect the inhabitants from demons, illness and other misfortune. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHeight 7 in (17.8 cm) x 12-3\/4 in (32.3cm) Diam. at rim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLosses, repairs and restoration as visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Ex collection Joel Warren, Texas, USA; acquired on the US art market within the last 20 years\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53292175655226,"sku":"17191","price":1650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17191blu.jpg?v=1775676336"},{"product_id":"luristan-bronze-dirk-dagger","title":"Luristan Bronze Dirk Dagger","description":"\u003cp\u003e Caspian Sea Area, Ca. 1st Millennium BC 800 BC.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBronze dagger having a long tapered blade with center raised blood ridge, tapered conical finial decorated with a wide band of incised rings. Overall blue-green surface patina.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 13 inches H. + custom tiered  metal pedestal base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProvenance: Private American collection, ex. John F. Piscopo Collection, IL.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor further information and similar examples see Bronze and Iron, Anceint Near Eastern Artifacts in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, by Oscar White Muscarella. There is a large corpus of metal work excavated from the ancient Near East. Luristan artisits are perhaps the most famous as mounted nomadic warriors with fancy horsetrappings, master-of-the-animal finials, standards, tubes, cheekpieces swords and daggers. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53292771967290,"sku":null,"price":3000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17448bl.jpg?v=1775689756"},{"product_id":"canaanite-basalt-stone-vessel","title":"Canaanite Basalt Stone Vessel","description":"\u003cp\u003eMiddle Bronze Age, 2nd millennium BC, circa 2000 to 1550 BC\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gray basalt stone vessel with a slightly flared rim, concave interior worn smooth from use, and a flat base with mineral accretions — all consistent with Canaanite stone-working traditions from the Levant. Carved from a single block of basalt, a volcanic stone abundantly available in the Galilee, Golan Heights, and Jezreel Valley regions of the southern Levant. Basalt vessel production was a specialized Canaanite craft, with workshops identified at sites like Tel Hazor, where excavations uncovered unfinished basalt vessels including plates, pedestal bowls, and bowls with out-turned walls. \u003cbr\u003eSize: 6-3\/8 in Diam x 4-7\/8 inches H. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBasalt vessels were a hallmark of southern Levantine material culture from the Chalcolithic period onward, produced by specialists and exchanged among communities across the region. During the Middle Bronze Age, Canaanite centers like Hazor — described in Joshua 11:10 as \"the head of all those kingdoms\" — were major hubs for basalt sculpture and vessel carving. Raw material was typically sourced from quarries several kilometers from production sites, as geochemical provenance studies have confirmed. The slightly concave profile and wide, flared rim on this piece are typical of utilitarian grinding or mixing mortars from this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx New York Private Collection, Acquired early 2000s in the Holyland. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53309979722042,"sku":"17479","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17479blu.jpg?v=1776011987"},{"product_id":"ancient-bronze-ceremonial-shaft-hole-axe-surmounted-by-a-standing-equid","title":"Ancient Bronze Ceremonial Shaft-Hole Axe Surmounted by a Standing Equid","description":"\u003cp\u003eBactria Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC) or Elamite Eastern Iranian workshop, ca. late 3rd to early 2nd millennium BCE.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA sculpturally arresting cast bronze shaft hole axe head of the distinguished eastern Iranian tradition that flourished across the Oxus Civilization and neighboring Elamite workshops in the late third and early second millennium B.C.. The axe is formed as a single lost-wax casting comprising a robust cylindrical socket with a flaring collar at the butt, a reinforcing medial ridge that runs the length of the upper blade for structural strength, and a gracefully curved, fan-shaped cutting edge that sweeps downward in the profile characteristic of the period's ceremonial weaponry. Rising from the top of the shaft stands a three-dimensional equid horse cast integrally with the axe body, its compact torso, alert upright ears, and slender tensed legs conveying the vitality that BMAC and Elamite metalsmiths reserved for emblems of elite status and ritual power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe animal-on-shaft convention is characteristic of this early eastern tradition and differentiates the present piece unambiguously from the better-known, later Luristan spike-butted axes of the early first millennium B.C., whose butts terminate instead in four projecting spikes. Closely related examples reside in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (acc. 1981.448.23, \"Axe with shaft hole, Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex\") and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (M.76.97.21, shaft-hole axehead, ca. 2100–1750 B.C.), both illustrating the same union of tubular socket, flaring collar, curved blade and integrally modeled zoomorphic finial. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAxes of this type transcended the purely martial; their prestige casting, exquisite animal imagery, and frequent recovery from high-status burial contexts confirm their role as insignia of rank and instruments of ritual rather than everyday weapons. The horse which was rare, costly, and charged with cosmological significance in Bronze Age Central Asia and the Iranian Plateau, amplified that symbolism, linking its bearer to mobility, warfare, and the divine order\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 4-1\/2 inches (11.43cm) length + custom presentation hardwood base.\u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Private collection, bought via London Art Market previously in a 1990s UK collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53389273563450,"sku":"17200","price":2450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17200blu.jpg?v=1777584857"},{"product_id":"neo-babylonian-achaemenid-graeco-persian-smoky-chalcedony-conoid-stamp-seal","title":"Sasanian Chalcedony Smoky Chalcedony Conoid Stamp Seal with Gayomard","description":"\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCirca. 224–651 CE.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eMounted as a 14K Gold Pendant Necklace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eA fine and well-polished domed conoid stamp seal of translucent smoky grey chalcedony, a stone\u003cspan\u003e perforated for suspension, the flat face engraved in schematic linear intaglio with the figure of Gayomard — the primeval man of Zoroastrian belief — shown with outstretched arms and legs between two star-topped staves, his dog \"Yellow Ears\" below. Strung on a modern gold-tone chain for display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eThe dome is vertically pierced through the apex for suspension, the original intended mode of wear on a cord around the owner's neck or wrist, and has been strung on a modern wearable 14K gold rope chain for present display.\u003cspan class=\"citation-nbsp\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-state=\"closed\" class=\"group\/trigger inline-flex min-w-0\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"citation inline\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"my-2 [\u0026amp;+p]:mt-4 [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [\u0026amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"\u003eDimensions: Seal 7\/8 × 7\/8 × 13\/16 in. (approx. 2.2 × 2.2 × 2.1 cm); chain length 22 in.\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Intact; crisp intaglio; fine polish to the domed body; natural minor surface wear consistent with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"provenance\" class=\"font-editorial font-bold mb-2 mt-4 [.has-inline-images_\u0026amp;]:clear-end text-lg first:mt-0 md:text-lg [hr+\u0026amp;]:mt-4\"\u003eProvenance:  Private collection, Newark, Delaware, acquired prior to 1981 which satisfies the pre-1970\/1983 UNESCO-era provenance threshold preferred by major auction houses for ancient Near Eastern seals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53415504871738,"sku":"14635","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/14635.jpg?v=1778098870"},{"product_id":"old-babylonian-stone-cylinder-seal","title":"Old Babylonian Stone Cylinder Seal","description":"\u003cp\u003eEarly–Middle Bronze Age, early 2nd millennium BCE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCalcite stone cut with bearded male figures in flounced or tufted skirts, in profile with prominent noses and chins, holding a horizontal pole between them suspending a round containers or baskets, iconography which is known in Mesopotamian seals associated with provisioning, offerings, or a transport scenes.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 1 inch (2.54cm) Length,  repaired. Comes with modern baked impression.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Pierce Thomas Williamson (15 March 1949 – 18 November 2025), of Tiverton, Rhode Island. Williamson was a graduate of De La Salle High School (Newport, RI) and of Rhode Island College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education. He taught history at Tiverton High School for thirty-six years, ultimately serving as Chairman of the History Department, and was widely known among his students, colleagues, and community for his scholarly engagement with American and European history and for his ability to bring historical objects and events vividly into the classroom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCylinder seals acted as personal signatures and administrative tools, rolled across wet clay on tablets and jar stoppers to identify the owner or authority and make transactions legally binding.  In addition, they served as protective amulets and status symbols, being drilled and worn on cords or pinned to garments, with their imagery and materials believed to confer protection and prestige.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53569129480506,"sku":"17637","price":795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17637z.jpg?v=1780680791"},{"product_id":"mesopotamian-cuneiform-administrative-tablet-1","title":"Mesopotamian Cuneiform Administrative Tablet","description":"\u003cp\u003eUr III period, reign of Shulgi, circa 2094–2047 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSquare clay tablet, neatly impressed in horizontal registers with cuneiform script, recording an administrative account of barley rations as regular offerings for the god Enki and the deified king Shulgi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003eAn account of barley for offerings to several deities  and hired personnel. Dated  to year 9 of King Amar-Suen.  \u003cbr\u003e n (amount)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en kor of barley,  ordinary regular offering (from) the tablet  of Ur-gipar,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en  regular offering for (the goddess) Ninegal, N (amount) regular offering for the Temple Oval, (from) the tablet of Budu,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en (from) the tablet of Ur-ninlagare,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en for the wages of hired men (from) the tablet of Ur-Nungal,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en  (from) the tablet of Nigarkidu, offering for Enki,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003en kor for wages for hired men,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003eSet aside:  n of barley in place of emmer, (from) the tablet of Ur-Shulgi …\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-removefontsize=\"true\" data-originalcomputedfontsize=\"16\"\u003eMonth XI, year  “The en-priestess (of the god Nanna) at Ga’esh was installed.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Intact w\/ surface wear and minor encrustations in recesses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize 1-1\/2 inches l  x 1-3\/8 inches w.  Intact.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eProvenance: Pierce Thomas Williamson (15 March 1949 – 18 November 2025), of Tiverton, Rhode Island. Williamson was a graduate of De La Salle High School (Newport, RI) and of Rhode Island College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in history and secondary education. He taught history at Tiverton High School for thirty-six years, ultimately serving as Chairman of the History Department, and was widely known among his students, colleagues, and community for his scholarly engagement with American and European history and for his ability to bring historical objects and events vividly into the classroom.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53569884750138,"sku":"17587","price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17587z.jpg?v=1780691366"},{"product_id":"near-eastern-bronze-socketed-axe-head","title":"Near Eastern Bronze Socketed Axe Head","description":"\u003cp\u003eLevant, Bronze Age ca. 2nd Millennium B.C.\u003cbr\u003eCast in bronze, this finely proportioned socketed axe head comes from the ancient Near East, likely the Levantine region, and dates to the Bronze Age, circa late 2nd millennium B.C. The compact, vertical socket is topped by a rounded mouth to receive the wooden haft, while one face projects into a broad, gently curved cutting edge. A raised longitudinal ridge runs across the top and down toward the blade, strengthening the head at the point of maximum impact and creating a clean, architectural profile that is both functional and visually striking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface shows a rich green and brown patina with light encrustation, the result of long burial, with only minor ancient casting flaws and small fissures visible near the lower socket area. Overall, the piece is in excellent, stable condition for its age, and it is presented on a simple black metal and wood base that highlights the form and allows it to be appreciated as an abstract sculptural object as well as an early weapon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize (axe head): approx. 2 1\/4 in H × 3 1\/2 in W × 1 1\/4 in D (5.7 × 8.9 × 3.2 cm), plus custom base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSocketed axes of this type would have served both as practical tools and weapons in the Late Bronze Age societies of the Levant and surrounding regions, reflecting the spread of bronze metallurgy and specialized weapon forms across the ancient Near East. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53578410754362,"sku":"17626","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17626bl.jpg?v=1780957146"},{"product_id":"ancient-luristan-bronze-openwork-heraldic-finial","title":"Ancient Luristan Bronze Openwork Heraldic Finial","description":"\u003cp\u003eCentral Asia,  Iron Age, circa 1000–650 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCast as a narrow vertical standard surmounted by a heraldic group of opposed horned animals. The lower section forms a looped, openwork shaft with stylized, nodular projections suggesting highly abstracted figures, rising to a circular opening and flaring into two splayed, branch‑like horn arrangements that terminate in multiple knops, echoing antlers or elaborate ibex horns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRich dark brown metal with areas of green and turquoise cuprite and malachite patination, with light encrustation in recesses and old mineral adhesion consistent with long burial. Slight losses and surface roughness to extremities; overall stable with good ancient surfaces and pleasing variegated patina.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSize: 5-5\/8 in (14.3 cm) H, plus custom display base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOriginally the finial of a standard or staff, part of the corpus of Luristan bronzes associated with ritual or ceremonial equipment, often featuring “Master of Animals” and heraldic animal motifs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompare, for example, a related Luristan bronze standard finial with opposed horned animals in the collection of LACMA, as well as similar openwork ‘Master of Animals’ standards in the Cleveland Museum of Art and other major collections, all dated to the early 1st millennium BCE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEx New York Collection\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art for Eternity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53589139194170,"sku":"17608","price":1450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/files\/17608z_1a40ddcb-4989-4a9a-8193-9758b3856816.jpg?v=1781117728"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0775\/5120\/6714\/collections\/14694bla.jpg?v=1776012904","url":"https:\/\/howardnowes.com\/collections\/near-east.oembed?page=2","provider":"Art for Eternity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}