A FATIMID IVORY MALE FIGURINE with stocky body, lightly delineated loincloth and large head carved with pronounced almond-shaped eyes, the shoulders with mortise sockets for the arms, the top and back of the head pierced for suspension, circa 11th century (slight cracking and minute losses, mottled patination) on wood black base

细节

A FATIMID IVORY MALE FIGURINE with stocky body, lightly delineated loincloth and large head carved with pronounced almond-shaped eyes, the shoulders with mortise sockets for the arms, the top and back of the head pierced for suspension, circa 11th century (slight cracking and minute losses, mottled patination) on wood black base
4 3/8in. (11.1cm.) high

拍品专文

A similar figurine was sold in these Rooms, 18 October 1994, lot 379. The present example differs from that in that the head is carved integrally with the body. A discussion of these figurines can be found in the note to that lot. Futher to the information there, a bone head from a similar figurine was excavated in Fustat, published by Gayraud, R.-P.: 'Istabl 'Antar (Fostat) 1985. Rapport des Fouilles' in Annales Islamologiques, vol XXII, Cairo, 1986, pp.25-27, ill. fig.D. While the previous example had every indication of having been used as a standing icon, the holes through the back of the head of the present example would indicate that it was worn as a protective talisman