Cypriot Black Polished bull figurine: Early Cypriot III - Middle Cypriot I (2100-1800 BC

Unusually large, hollow, bull figure in Black Polished Ware with pierced ears. Such detached figures from North Cyprus with large horns were probably used in rituals to embody male fertility and power. They more often have a suspension loop on the back of the neck. Similar smaller figures are found on the rims or shoulders of various vessels.

Complete and generally good condition, some possible restoration.   TL test report no.N125e38 from Oxford Authentication confirms ancient.

Hollow figure with long body, 4 stubby legs, very large horns, flat face with pierced ears, and eyes as two incised concentric circles, beak-like horizontally-pierced nose with slit mouth at tip. Incised decoration filled with lime: back and most of sides covered with checkerboard pattern made with hatched rectangles between longitudinal lines and double lines at lower edge. Zig-zag line down centre of back and cross-hatched bands up back of back legs, all converging at anal hole. Cross-hatched band across back of head with linked diamonds above. Zig-zag across forehead. Cross hatched bands up front of front legs up to eyes (another up chest) flanked up each side by large zig-zag. Horns ringed with two 4 line bands and triple one by tip.

Cf: HG Buchholz & V Karageorghis 1973, No.1525; Cyprus Museum, Nicosia. A545 (misprinted in publication), Morris D 1985, p.193, fig.312, 314.