WESTERN ASIATIC TERRACOTTA FOUNDATION CONE

Ca. 2000 BC
An Old Babylonian foundation cone ‘clay nail’ with cuneiform round roughly two-thirds of the body. The body tapers to a point and has a thick, disc-shaped finial on the other end. Clay cones were crafted, baked, and then inserted into the walls as a testament to the temple or building's consecration to the respective deity or king. The Sumerian determinative DINGIR is written, this specifies that the noun following this is a god or other divinity.
Size: 110mm x 50mm; Weight: 120g
Provenance: Property of a North London gentleman; From a European Collection, France, bought in London in 1980-90s, the piece was seen by Professor Lambert. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.
Estimate: GBP 750 - 1500