Ancient Syro-Hittite Terracotta Fertility Figure c.1500-900 BC For Sale

Ancient Syro-Hittite Terracotta Fertility FigureOffered for sale is an authentic Bronze Age terracotta fertility figure originating from the Syro-Hittite cultural sphere and dating between approximately 1500 and 900 BC.Modelled as a standing female deity, the figure is believed to represent Astarte, one of the principal goddesses of the ancient Near East associated with fertility, love, protection and warfare. She wears a long robe adorned with a broad textured necklace, while both arms are bent with the hands resting upon the chest in a pose commonly associated with female cult figures of the period.The expressive facial features, including the characteristic beaked nose and applied eyes, reflect the distinctive artistic traditions of Syro-Hittite terracotta sculpture. Such figures are thought to have served religious, ritual or votive purposes and provide a rare insight into the spiritual beliefs of Bronze Age communities that flourished across the northern Levant and southern Anatolia more than three millennia ago.As an original archaeological object surviving for over 3,000 years, this figure represents both an important historical artefact and a tangible connection to one of the earliest civilisations of the ancient Near East.Historical SignificanceThe Syro-Hittite kingdoms emerged following the collapse of the Hittite Empire around the end of the Late Bronze Age and preserved many traditions of earlier Anatolian and Levantine cultures.Female terracotta figures such as this are widely interpreted as representations of fertility deities, household protectors or votive offerings placed within temples and domestic shrines. Their symbolism reflects the importance of fertility, prosperity and divine protection within ancient Near Eastern society.Comparable examples are held in museum collections throughout Europe and the Middle East, illustrating the enduring cultural significance of these remarkable Bronze Age objects.ProvenanceThis artefact is accompanied by a documented ownership history that enhances both its historical context and collectability.Provenance Chain• Private collection of a Canadian gentleman residing in Essex, United Kingdom, assembled between the 1920s and approximately 1990.• Subsequently inherited by an Essex lady during the late 1990s.• Later retained within the private collection of an Essex gentleman from the late 1990s onward.• Acquired through TimeLine sales Ltd. (United Kingdom).• Cleared against the Art Loss Register database prior to sale.• Accompanied by the original illustrated TimeLine sales lot declaration signed by Dr Raffaele D’Amato, Head of the Antiquities Department.Literature ReferenceComparable examples published in:Zahlhaas, G.
Idole und Votive.
Prähistorische Staatssammlung, Munich, 1993.
Page 32, Figure 16.SpecificationsCulture: Syro-HittiteDate: c.1500-900 BCMaterial: TerracottaObject Type: Fertility FigureHeight: 14 cm (5½ in.)Weight: 78 gCountry / Region of Origin: Ancient Northern Levant (Modern Syria / Southern Türkiye)ConditionPresented in excellent ancient condition, displaying expected age-related wear, surface weathering and minor imperfections consistent with an authentic archaeological terracotta object over three thousand years old.Please examine all photographs carefully as they form part of the description.What’s IncludedAncient Syro-Hittite Terracotta Fertility FigureOriginal TimeLine sales catalogue pageIllustrated TimeLine sales lot declarationProvenance documentationSecure archival packagingAuthenticityThis artefact was legally acquired through TimeLine sales Ltd., a specialist sale house dealing in ancient art and antiquities.The original documentation accompanying the piece will be included with the purchaser. The documented ownership history and Art Loss Register clearance provide additional confidence regarding the object’s provenance.