Anatolian Silver Icon & Bead Necklace - 38.4 g

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Ancient / Ethnographic Art Through The Ages

By Artemis Gallery

Jul 16, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-07-16 10:00:00 2020-07-16 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient / Ethnographic Art Through The Ages https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-art-through-the-ages-5334
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian Icons, Fine art, much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Western Asia, Anatolia, probably Balkans area, Chalcolithic to Bronze Age, mid to late 3rd millennium BCE. A very special necklace comprised of three rare Anatolian silver ring or annular idols as well as dozens and dozens of silver beads. Please note, the silver is of exceptional quality, comprised of 98% silver. Anatolia is known for the creation of intriguing idols - found in geometric, steatopygic, as well as anthropomorphic shapes - that are coveted by many collectors. Although they were made from stone, shell, bone, and metal, precious metal idols - like the three silver idols featured on this necklace - are the rarest and most valuable. Length of necklace: 12" L (30.5 cm); size of one silver pendant: 1.25" H (3.2 cm); total weight: 38.4 grams; silver quality: 98% silver
  
  Votive idols are known in a variety of fascinating forms throughout the pre-literate ancient world. Given the existence of these truly abstract ring-shaped idol figures as well as others, i.e. the feminine so-called "Venus" figures, we know that people in the past did not feel constrained by naturalism. While archaeologists and art historians have suggested that they represent or symbolize the human figure - albeit quite stylized - this understanding is still being disputed. Irregardless, their anthropomorphic nature is difficult to deny.
  
  For further reading on Anatolian ring-shaped idols: Thomas Zimmermann "Anatolia and the Balkans,Once Again - Ring-Shaped Idols from Western Asia and a Critical Reassessment of Some 'Early Bronze Age' Items from Ikiztepe, Turkey." Oxford Journal of Archaeology - Volume 26, Issue 1, February 2007, pp 25-33.
  
  Parallels to the idols on this necklace may be found in the collection of the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara (museum no. 36-108-68, a silver ring idol, and no. 6040, a gold double-figure idol). The museum also has similar examples in terracotta in its collection (nos. 114-8-64, 114-9-64).
  
  Provenance: private Dere Family Collection, New York City, New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s to 2000s
  
  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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #151673

  Condition

  Ancient silver beads restrung in modern times with sterling silver clasp. All of the beads have well preserved forms. Many of them have light deposits on their surfaces. A very special piece of wearable art!
• Shipping Info

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