Chalcolithic Pottery Tell Halaf, Fertility figurine idol - (1)

ITEM: Fertility figurine idol MATERIAL: Pottery CULTURE: Chalcolithic, Tell Halaf PERIOD: 6th millenium B. C DIMENSIONS: 90 mm x 53 mm CONDITION: Good condition PROVENANCE: Ex Swiss private collection, acquired in 1990’s PARALLEL: The Walters Art Museum, accession number 48. 2741 Sitting tall with her heavy legs extended before her, this female statuette cradles her round, protruding breasts in her arms. Horizontal bands of pale brown pigment run across her body, emphasizing the full, curved forms of her limbs. The pigment suggests facial features, most predominantly her wide, oval eyes and small irises, on her thin, cylindrical head. She is adorned with a necklace and loincloth, both indicated with painted line. As early as the 7th millennium BCE, cultures in the Near East began to create organized settlements with well-developed religious and funerary practices. The Halaf culture of Anatolia (southern Turkey) and northern Mesopotamia is named for Tell Halaf in modern day Syria and is one example of such sophisticated early cultures. The Halaf culture flourished during the 6th millennium BCE and was notable for its ceramic productions, both its intricately painted pottery and remarkable female figurines. The Halaf culture is an archaeological period in the history of Mesopotamia. Many of its characteristics have been observed at the site of Tell Halaf (in northeastern present-day Syria) , to which it owes its name. According to the Lyon School, it falls within 'period 6' of Mesopotamian history, along with the Hassuna-Samarra culture. From 6100 BC onwards, the Halaf culture developed, extending from the Zagros Mountains to the Mediterranean, with its main centres in the upper Tigris plain (Arpachiya) , and the Habur triangle (Tell Halaf, Tell Brak, Tell Chagar Bazar) . Around 5400 BC this culture was interrupted. Elsewhere the Halafian character is maintained for a time, but then disappears. Level VI at Arpachiya shows traces of destruction, evidence, according to Paul Garelli, of the violent intrusion of newcomers. Its civilisation bears the imprint of the El Obeid period. Remains have been found that bear evidence of a decorative art whose themes alternate between naturalism and geometry. The figure of the Mother Goddess is found both as a drawing and as an object. Compared to previous cultures, there is evidence of a refinement of the ceramic paste and the perfecting of kilns that were able to reach high temperatures. At this stage metallurgy spread, especially copper and lead. Stone stamps were used to delimit the ownership of the objects to which they were applied. Their provenance testifies to extensive trade links from the Anatolian plateau to the Persian Gulf. Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks. The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally , provenance statement seen by Catawiki.