Ancient Central Asia or Asia Minor, Bactria, ca. 3rd to 2nd millennium BCE. A beautiful example of a pillar idol (sometimes called a column idol), hand-carved and meticulously smoothed from a mottled black stone with white and beige inclusions. The body of the idol is minimalistic and highly-abstract with an elongated hourglass form, and the lower end curves out gently to a wide, planar base. Both the upper and lower faces bear shallow, horizontal grooves across the center. An intriguing example of abstract artistry from the ancient world! Size: 5.25" W x 11.4" H (13.3 cm x 29 cm).
Stone idols like this example are known in a variety of fascinating forms throughout the pre-literate ancient world. From the truly abstract kilia-type figures that are barely recognizable as human to the exaggerated feminine shapes of so-called "Venus" figures, people in the past, as today, had a clear desire to portray human forms and did not feel constrained by naturalism.
A stylistically-similar example of a slightly larger size hammered for $11,250 at Christie's, New York Antiquities auction (sale 2007, June 4, 2008, lot 69): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-bactrian-stone-ritual-object-circa-late-5078804-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5078804&sid=c215dd00-7518-481b-8184-986e1b6f1fd4
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Tomatsu Miura collection, Japan, collected in the 1990s
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#140493
Condition
Small repairs to chipped areas on upper and lower faces, with small losses and light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions to body and both faces, with traces of likely-modern red and blue-green pigment along body. Light earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory number written in silver marker on upper face, and old inventory label on bottom face.