2 Pottery Figures of Deities - Mesopotamian & Egyptian

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VARIETY SALE | Antiquities & Ethnographic Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 16, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-12-16 10:00:00 2021-12-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : VARIETY SALE | Antiquities & Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/variety-sale-antiquities-ethnographic-art-8026
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, ca. late 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE; Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A wonderful pair of pottery depictions of deities: 1 Mesopotamian relief of the head of the demon giant Humbaba and 1 Egyptian flat figure of the dwarf god Bes shown seated. First, the Mesopotamian relief is of rectangular form and displays a square, intimidating visage with large, almond-shaped eyes beneath an arched brow, a bulbous nose, a long moustache, full lips, and gritted teeth, all between a pair of high-set ears and capped by a helmet-like coiffure. Alternatively, the Egyptian figure of Bes is shown full-bodied and kneeling as he holds an infant in his bent left arm and motions toward the child with his right hand. The squat deity presents a huge head with a straight brow, bulging eyes, a wide nose, and full lips engulfed in a lengthy moustache and striated beard, all flanked by a pair of pointed ears. Size (of largest): 3.1" W x 3.1" H (7.9 cm x 7.9 cm)
  
  His upturned feet, slender tail, and long coiffure or headdress can be seen on the verso.
  
  In Akkadian mythology, Humbaba or Huwawa was a monstrous demon giant who personified Styx, the river of the dead. Humbaba was also the guardian of the Forest of the Cedars where the other gods resided. The most famous Mesopotamian story - entitled "The Epic of Gilgamesh" - narrates how Gilgamesh and Enkidu set out on an adventure to the Cedar Forest to slay Humbaba. Once they find Humbaba, the giant demon renowned for his terrifying, supernatural radiance, they beat him nearly to death. Humbaba's pleas for mercy were almost granted, however Enkidu convinces Gilgamesh to finally kill the beast and achieve global fame for the rest of time; subsequently, Gilgamesh acquiesces to his friend's suggestion and beheads the dreaded monster. The severed head of Humbaba was then affixed to a cedar door and sent to the temple of Enlil, king of the gods. This literary detail may explain the abundance of clay plaques depicting Humbaba's wrinkled and terrifying face as they were perhaps primarily used as charms against evil and may have been hung on entrances to homes or businesses.
  
  Alternatively, Bes, the bandy-legged leonine dwarf god, was an apotropaic deity, who protected the home, children, and women in pregnancy and childbirth. In his role as protector of the home, he was thought to dispel bad dreams, as well as increase virility in men and fertility in women, which also associated him with fecundity. An Egyptian god, Bes not only continued to be a popularly depicted deity well into the Graeco-Roman Period, but representations of him also became widespread across the Near East during the first millennium BCE. In Mesopotamia, however, he was viewed as more of an apotropaic creature than a deity proper.
  
  Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #146078

  Condition

  Egyptian figure has repair to head, as well as losses to top of head and chips to base. Chips to periphery of Mesopotamian figure. Both have expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, both are very nice with impressive remaining details. Collection number inscribed on verso of Egyptian figure near base.
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