An Old Babylonian terracotta statuette depicting a king, facing front, with long beard and dressed in a long robe but with the right shoulder bared, by the side of a forward facing goddess, Astarte dressed in . The reverse is unmodelled.

Old Babylonian period: Circa. 1900-1600 BC.

Condition: Fine and intact, the details worn although this may be from wear to the cast from which the mould was originally taken.

Height 9.5 cms (3.7 ins).

Provenance: From a London gallery, previously a 1990's collection acquired on the UK arts market.

Terracotta plaques of this sort were mass-produced from moulds and represented a form of art available to a wide audience. They have been excavated in temples as well as in household shrines and private homes and give us a mysterious glimpse into religious practices and the ideas that people valued. Their subject matter varies widely, including religious images, mythological and erotic scenes, and representations of rulers and gods.