Bidspirit auction | PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA NUDE AND PREGNANT

PHOENICIAN TERRACOTTA NUDE AND PREGNANT FEMALE FIGURE PLAYING THE LYRE - Ca. 6th - 4th century BC A sculpture representing a woman dressed in a classical tunic and holding an instrument resembling a tambourine. Her abdomen is pronounced, suggesting the representation of a pregnant woman. This detail highlights the importance of music as an element associated with specific cults and rituals. This sculpture forms part of a group of Phoenician terracottas discovered underwater in the 1950s, possibly originating from Phoenician temples and representing the Phoenicians and their principal activities as votive sculptures. Size: 31 cm. Provenance: Private European collection of Ancient Art; Ex New York Antiquities Gallery pre-2000. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter. All items are accompanied by a European export license. Each item has been published and exhibited. A copy of the published book will be provided with each lot.