Mesopotamia - Circa 1000 BC. Head of Pazuzu
Period: Mesopotamia - Circa 1000 BC - Rare Early Fragment.
Title: Possibly Early Head of Pazuzu.
Medium: Clay, on a custom mahogany plinth.
Condition: This work has some losses, the condition is commensurate with age.
Provenance: The Collection was assembled in the 1950s and 60s by His Excellency Mr Aslam Malik former Pakistan High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand.
Thence is by family descent to the previous owner.
Wright Gallery Fine Art acquired part of the collection in 2018.
About: Very early fragment of the head of Pazuzu. From the research we have conducted, also with the opinions of experts within the field of ancient antiquities, sculptural representations of the appearance of Pazuzu have evolved from the early interpretations of the Mesopotamia region, right through to modern-day incarnations within popular culture. Pazuzu is the demon of the southwest wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in apotropaic amulets, which combat the powers of his rival, the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Although Pazuzu is, himself, considered to be an evil spirit, he drives and frightens away other evil spirits, therefore protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
This is a fine example of early sculpture with exceptional provenance, likely from the Mesopotamia region and dating to approximately 1000 BC. Mesopotamia is a historical region in Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in modern days roughly corresponding to most of Iraq, Kuwait, parts of Northern Saudi Arabia, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey, and regions along the Turkish–Syrian and Iran–Iraq borders.
Period: Mesopotamia - Circa 1000 BC - Rare Early Fragment.
Title: Possibly Early Head of Pazuzu.
Medium: Clay, on a custom mahogany plinth.
Condition: This work has some losses, the condition is commensurate with age.
Provenance: The Collection was assembled in the 1950s and 60s by His Excellency Mr Aslam Malik former Pakistan High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand.
Thence is by family descent to the previous owner.
Wright Gallery Fine Art acquired part of the collection in 2018.
About: Very early fragment of the head of Pazuzu. From the research we have conducted, also with the opinions of experts within the field of ancient antiquities, sculptural representations of the appearance of Pazuzu have evolved from the early interpretations of the Mesopotamia region, right through to modern-day incarnations within popular culture. Pazuzu is the demon of the southwest wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in apotropaic amulets, which combat the powers of his rival, the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Although Pazuzu is, himself, considered to be an evil spirit, he drives and frightens away other evil spirits, therefore protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
This is a fine example of early sculpture with exceptional provenance, likely from the Mesopotamia region and dating to approximately 1000 BC. Mesopotamia is a historical region in Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in modern days roughly corresponding to most of Iraq, Kuwait, parts of Northern Saudi Arabia, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey, and regions along the Turkish–Syrian and Iran–Iraq borders.
Period: Mesopotamia - Circa 1000 BC - Rare Early Fragment.
Title: Possibly Early Head of Pazuzu.
Medium: Clay, on a custom mahogany plinth.
Condition: This work has some losses, the condition is commensurate with age.
Provenance: The Collection was assembled in the 1950s and 60s by His Excellency Mr Aslam Malik former Pakistan High Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand.
Thence is by family descent to the previous owner.
Wright Gallery Fine Art acquired part of the collection in 2018.
About: Very early fragment of the head of Pazuzu. From the research we have conducted, also with the opinions of experts within the field of ancient antiquities, sculptural representations of the appearance of Pazuzu have evolved from the early interpretations of the Mesopotamia region, right through to modern-day incarnations within popular culture. Pazuzu is the demon of the southwest wind known for bringing famine during dry seasons, and locusts during rainy seasons. Pazuzu was invoked in apotropaic amulets, which combat the powers of his rival, the malicious goddess Lamashtu, who was believed to cause harm to mother and child during childbirth. Although Pazuzu is, himself, considered to be an evil spirit, he drives and frightens away other evil spirits, therefore protecting humans against plagues and misfortunes.
This is a fine example of early sculpture with exceptional provenance, likely from the Mesopotamia region and dating to approximately 1000 BC. Mesopotamia is a historical region in Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in modern days roughly corresponding to most of Iraq, Kuwait, parts of Northern Saudi Arabia, the eastern parts of Syria, Southeastern Turkey, and regions along the Turkish–Syrian and Iran–Iraq borders.