Sphinx

Bone
Phoenician, 5th century BC
H. 3,5cm

A rare Poenician bone Sphinx. The figure is carved on a rectangular bone piece. The hybrid has the body of a lion, wings and a female head with striking facial features. The face is framed by long curly hair falling down on to the figure’s breasts. The wings are rendered stylized with an incised feather structure. The lion paws are oversized compared to the rest of the body.

Condition: very good considering its age, some cracks as visible on the picture

Provenance: ex. the late Dr. Leo Mildenberg, Zurich, 1990s.

Item reference: NE0211