Anatolian ‘Stargazer’ Head

£ 395.00

A small marble Anatolian ‘stargazer’ head, of Kiliya type with a broad backward tilting stylized head on a narrow neck. The colloquial title ‘stargazer’ comes from the large head of the idol, which used to be a complete statuette, being slightly tilted back to give the impression of an upward stare. Only few examples of these idols survive in almost-complete form as most examples were broken across the neck at the time of burial.

Date: Circa 5th-4th Millennium BC
Provenance: Property of a German gentleman, acquired in 1980 – 1990.
Condition: Very fine.

SOLD

Product Code: NES-06
Category: Tag:

Stargazer figures, also referred to as the ‘Kiliya type’, are one of the earliest kinds of sculpture which aim to evoke the human form. Only few intact or near-intact figures of this kind are known to remain worldwide. The term ‘stargazer figure’ refers to the slight upwards tilt of the head resting on the figure’s slim neck. They are typically associated with the Chalcolithic period (circa 5500-2000 BC), and are one of the most highly-regarded forms of prehistoric sculpture.

To learn more about Anatolian Stargazers, visit our relevant blog post: The Stargazers of Ancient Anatolia.

Dimensions H 3.5 cm
Stone

Marble

Region

Near East (Western Asiatic)

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