Syro-Hittite Terracotta Talisman - 2.5 in

Syro-Hittite Teracotta figure “Man riding bull”

Dating:
First half of the second millennium BC

Size:
Length: 63 mm (2 and ½ inches)
Height (Head to foot): 67mm (2 and ½ inches)
Weight: 41.5 grams (1 and ½ ounces)

Provenance:
Ex Timeline Auctions 2.12.2025 lot 250 (Documentation included)
Ex important Mayfair, London, UK, collection, before 2000.
From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

Description:
Standing bull with a rider on its back holding onto the horns, leaning forwards, staring the bull in the eyes and applying what is possibly a bridle decorated with a series of impressed 'dots'; the rider seated forward on the shoulders, applied eyes with central impressed 'dot', a series of dots impressed in an X-pattern between shoulders and hips at the rear and three bands of impressed dots to the legs; bull's tail held firmly between his back legs, applied eyes, shallow dots and incised line representing muzzle and mouth, applied collar at the neck decorated with three lines of impressed 'dots'.

Condition:
The overall condition of the piece is ok for the type. The terracotta is porous as usual and has a beige color which is the norm for these, but the surface has some white spots (probably calcification). The back legs are damaged, the left leg is almost completely missing, while the right leg has been glued back on, in modern times. The front legs are mostly complete with the right one being minorly damaged.

Reference:
Brooklyn Museum Nr. 1996.146.7
https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/no-NO/objects/155574