Israelite Ceramic Figurine of a Horse, Iron Age II, 800 B.C.E. - 600 B.C.E.
L. 16.5 cm
KB_PT_2861
Further images
Provenance
The Private Collection of the Baidun FamilyMahmoud Baidun (1920-1980) founded what would become Khader M Badiun and Sons Galleries in Jerusalem, Isreal. As a young boy, Mahmoud would accompany archeologists, biblical scholars, and visiting delegations on excavation sites all over Jerusalem and other sites within the country. Earning the trust of scholars and archeologists alike, Mahmoud became an indispensable presence and guide to other visiting scholars. When Mr. Baidun entered the antiquities trade, he would be granted trade license under the British Mandate and from the Hashemite Kingdom. When Israel authorized the trade of antiquities, Mahmoud was issued one of the first antiquities licenses issued in the country. He would later forge close relationships with other merchants; slowly building a massive private collection that would go on to sell to political leaders, international museums, and private collectors globally.
The stylized body of this horse recalls the elongated forms of Picasso’s figures, yet this Israelite figurine predates the Spanish master’s work by over 2500 years. The horse’s large mane seems to thrust from its short body, rising to an incredibly detailed head covered in an ancient bridle replicated in miniature. A sharp tuft of hair is slicked back between two pert ears, while the animal’s brow is lowered into a combative furrow. The mouth is wide and flat while the nostrils are not flared in the slightest, showing the calming touch of the artisan’s hand. This exceptional piece dates from approximately 800 B.C.E. – 600 B.C.E.