Ancient Near East, Northern Syria, Syro-Hittite, ca. early 2nd millennium BCE. A finely-constructed pottery figure of the goddess Astarte. She stands atop fused legs with a stippled waist band wrapping around her wide hips, a slender waist with a delineated navel, and conical arms protruding from the sides of her body. Around her neck is an intricate necklace. The thick neck gently tapers to an abstract head which is composed of a prominent nose, discoid eyes, large ears with drilled ornamentation, and a tab-shaped headdress with a pair of small perforations. Researchers believe that the figure's wide eyes serve to emphasize attentiveness and religious devotion to the gods in the ancient Near East. Astarte is the goddess who is also known as Ishtar in some parts of Mesopotamia and is associated with femininity, motherhood, and war. Size: 2.45" W x 7.2" H (6.2 cm x 18.3 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.For a stylistically-similar example, please see "Idols: The Beginning of Abstract Form." Ariadne Galleries, Inc., London, 1989, p. 92, fig. 82. Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #142901