Bidspirit auction | RARE MESOPOTAMIAN STONE AND LAPIS

RARE MESOPOTAMIAN STONE AND LAPIS LAZULI INLAID BULL - Ca. 3300 - 2700 BC. A recumbent bull carved from pale stone with a rounded body, prominent dewlap, and all legs tucked beneath. The head is rendered with deeply drilled nostrils, a broad muzzle, and circular eyes framed by curved horns. The body is inlaid with multiple clover-shaped inserts of blue lapis lazuli, distributed across the sides, back, and head. A circular perforation is drilled laterally through the centre of the animal.For similar see: Christie's, Live Auction 20677, Antiquities, 12 April 2022, Lot 42; L. Nigro, Tell es-Sultan/Jericho in the Early Bronze II (3000-2700 BC): the rise of an early Palestinian city. A synthesis of the results of four archaeological expeditions.Size: 90mm x 45mm; Weight: 195gProvenance: Prince collection, 1990s-2014; Ex. Piasa , 2 October 2003, Lot 314.This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.