Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Old Assyrian Empire, ca. 2025 to 1378 BCE. A stately pottery bust of an ancient figure, possibly the deity Nabu, the Mesopotamian god of literacy and wisdom, depicted with a tightly-coiled beard and shoulder-length hair, all surmounted by a flared headdress. His visage is comprised of applied annular eyes beneath arched brows, a huge, curved nose, and pursed lips. Size: 2.5" W x 4.3" H (6.4 cm x 10.9 cm)

Provenance: private Southern California collection, USA, bestowed 2006; ex-J. Malter collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired before 2006

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 to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#161109

Missing lower body, proper left arm, right forearm, and extension on verso. Chipping to tope of headdress. Surface wear as shown with nicks and abrasions all commensurate with age. Otherwise, impressive preservation with remarkable remaining details.