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an image of a statue of a man with a hat on his headan image of a figurine of a woman wearing a hatan image of a statue of a woman sitting on top of a rocka small statue of a man sitting on top of a rockan image of a stone figurine of a woman
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656 - BACTRIA-MARGIAN CULTURE (BMAC or Oxus) (present-day Turkmeni…
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Estimate €1,800 - €3,000
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Description
BACTRIA-MARGIAN CULTURE (BMAC or Oxus) (present-day Turkmenistan / Afghanistan) – Composite seated female figure, known as the ‘Princess of Bactria’ II, Late 3rd millennium – early 2nd millennium BC Carved from calcite, chlorite and steatite. Dimensions: 8.5 x 4.5 x 4 cm. Weight: 185 g. An exceptional composite female figure belonging to the Bactrian-Margian civilisation, also known as the Oxus civilisation, one of the most advanced and sophisticated cultures of Central Asia during the late 3rd and early 2nd millennium BCE. The sculpture is made by combining different types of stone – a distinctive feature of these celebrated composite figures – with the head carved from polished calcite and the body and headdress crafted from chlorite or steatite. The figure represents a high-ranking woman, traditionally identified as a princess, priestess, or possibly a female deity. The face displays the schematic and monumental features characteristic of Bactrian sculpture, with almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, and a hieratic expression that conveys serenity, authority, and a strong symbolic character. The body appears to be wrapped in a heavy ceremonial cloak decorated with fine diagonal and vertical geometric incisions reminiscent of the kaunakes, the traditional Mesopotamian garment originally made of sheepskin and adopted by various cultures of the ancient Near East. The use of different coloured stones to distinguish the face from the body is one of the most distinctive features of these sculptures and has been interpreted by various specialists as an element intended to emphasise the sacred or ceremonial nature of the figure. Although the exact meaning of these representations remains a subject of debate, most known examples come from funerary contexts, suggesting a function linked to the religious, funerary or cultic sphere. Some researchers consider them to be representations of members of the ruling elite, whilst others argue that they should be identified with female deities or ...
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About the sale GRAND SUMMER AUCTION OF HAUTE ÉPOQUE AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Auction location
Auction time 06/29/2026 at 4:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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