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Assyrian gypsum relief |
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This item has been sold and is for reference only. |
An Assyrian gypsum relief. This magnificent rectangular bas-relief wall slab comes from room S or T of the north west palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Kalhu (Nimrud). It depicts the upper half of the figure of a bearded, winged deity or genie (apkalle), standing in profile looking to his right. His left arm is held pendant whilst his right hand is raised and holds a cone with which he anoints a palmette of the sacred tree, of which only a fragment remains before him he is wearing a short-sleeved, tight-fitting tunic, a kilt, tasseled shawl and fringed belt or sash, all with embroidered borders. At his wrists are heavy bracelets each with a circular rosette: on his upper arm is a spiral armlet with calf headed terminals. In his belt or sash are two daggers and a dagger or whetstone with a horse-headed terminal.
The long, tiered beard is elaborately styled with carefully carved, spiral curls arranged in rows, alternating with tight, corkscrew curls. His long flowing hair is similarly artfully arranged, with tight curls falling to his shoulders. At his neck he wears a double row of necklaces of bi-conical beads interspersed with ribbed spacer beads, they terminate in a long tasseled counterweight attached by a circular rosette falling behind his right shoulder. His large ear is weighted down with a highly decorated pendant earring. He is crowned with a round-headed, triple horned headdress with a decorated border, beneath which is his elegantly scalloped fringe. His large eye is thickly outlined, and beneath his fleshy nose is his neat moustache with a long spiral end. At his back his left wing is raised and the right lowered, and beyond him are palmettes from a sacred tree. A seven line cuneiform inscription, carved right across the relief, starting just below the waist, is from the standard inscription od King Ashurnasirpal II and lists his titles, claims and achievements. 883 - 859 BC Sandon Hall Collection From the earliest times of the Assyrian kingdom it was the desire of the kings to show their greatness by building a new palace for themselves. On the death of Tukulti-Ninurta II in 883 BC, Ashurasirpal II inherited a large empire. Early in his reign he moved his capital from Ashur to a new site on the Tigris, which he enlarged with new temples, palaces and administrative buildings, gardens and canals. This site, Nimrud as it is now known, was the Assyrian city of Kalhu or Calah, as it is referred to in the Bible. The palace of Ashurasirpal II, known as the North west Palace, was one of the best preserved when Sir Henry Layard discovered it during the 1840's, with its walls of carved gypsum relief still standing. A large number of the reliefs repeat a scene of deities or genii anointing a Tree of Life. These supernatural creatures, wearing two or three horned headdresses indicating divinity, were probably protective spirits and the ritual of anointing had a magical purpose. The British Museum funded the excavations and in return when the reliefs were sawn from the walls, many of the best reliefs were removed to London. The museum had no need of the duplicate reliefs and they were sold by Layard and others from off the site. The lower half of many were sawn off as to lighten the load for transportation. The Sandon Hall relief is from either room S or T, which may have been the harem. The figures from these rooms have a distinct style: thick-set, with emphatic limbs. Their hair hangs heavily, breaking the line of the shoulder. Great care has been taken with the incised decoration on the clothing of the figures, with the embroidered edges incised with scenes of plants, animals and figures. Provenance: British Rail Pension Fund Collection < Back |
| Rupert Wace Ancient Art . 14 Old Bond Street, London W1S 4PP - Email: info@rupertwace.co.uk | |
