Near East Very rare Basalt Altar, 27 x 23 cm; 18 kg - Exhibited - Altar

A carved basalt stone altar of a graceful, waisted cylindrical form, also referred to as a pillar image, the top recessed to create a shallow basin, one side with an anthropomorphic visage with a large beaked nose, small protruding round eyes, and flanking lugs for ears. This is an extremely rare piece that was probably used as a home altar. Altars of this type have been found in and around the Golan region, and appear to be carved from local basalt. It has been suggested that these altars represent household gods. In the Chalcolithic period a nose was often added to non-anthropomorphic cultic objects, suggesting that the nose was identified as being connected to the breath of life, and therefore able to imbue an object with anthropomorphic qualities. Provenance: Elisenda Barbié Arte-Arqueología, Spain, Barcelona, 2015 Exhibited: Ifergan Collection museum, Málaga (2018-2020) Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes and will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price and the tax rate is not applied directly on the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it: - Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. -From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10%. Due to Switzerland and USA customs regulations about antiques over 100 years old, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland and USA

Estimate:$16,806.64

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