Syrian Steatite Libation Spoon

Culture: Levant

Period: 9th-8th century B.C.

Material: Steatite

Dimensions: 9 cm long

Price: 4 800 Euro

Ref: 6640

Provenance: French private collection Nicole and Jean-Michel Thierry, acquired in the 1950s from Koutoulakis in Paris. Thence in a family estate. With correspondence regarding the libation spoon between the Thierry family and scholars from Switzerland and USA.

Condition: Unrestored

Description: Exceedingly finely worked out libation spoon made of reddish-brown steatite. The bottom with a stylized hand in relief, which holds the spoon with it's overlong fingers. The nails are accentuated by vertical, the finger joints by horizontal incisions. The rim of the bowl is decorated with two braided cords. At the beginning of the spoon a broad decorative band with perforations which once had inlays. The libation flowed through the tube-like opening into the spoon, part of it is still preserved. See for the type the libation spoons in the Louvre with the inventory numbers AO 21108 and AO 11193. Mounted.