Ancient Bactrian Stone Idol

**Originally Listed At $400**

Ancient Central Asia, modern day Pakistan / Afghanistan, Bactria, late 2nd to early 1st millennium BCE. A beautiful idol or ritual object of a sizable form, hand-carved from mottled red-hued stone with dark grey inclusions that very faintly accent the body of the stone in a non-linear ridge like swirl. Stone idols like this one are known in a variety of forms; however, their true meaning is unknown because there are no surviving written records that explicate how they were used. Were they used as objects of worship, commerce, torture, or everyday use? Whatever the case, this is a wonderful example from early Bactria! Size: 8.5" L x 2.75" Diameter (21.6 cm x 7 cm)

Provenance: private southwestern Pennsylvania, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000

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.

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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.

#144660
Condition Report: Minor chips and abrasions to flat ends and body, with light encrustations on the ends. Otherwise intact and excellent.