Description:

**First Time At Auction**

North Africa, Sahara Desert, Late Stone Age, ca. 50,000 to 10,000 years ago. A remarkable pair of Neolithic ear plugs, both hand-sculpted from translucent pink quartz crystals. Each were shaped and polished to display slender, lengthy forms that are tubular in shape and slightly tapered at each end. Skillfully made by ancient people that inhabited the Sahara when it was a savanna - a hospitable climate for these hunter gatherers. Evidence suggests these humans even developed mines to quarry stones for tools. Size (both about the same): 1.8" L x 0.3" W (4.6 cm x 0.8 cm)

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, 1995 to 2010; ex-German Collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#159663

  • Condition: Some light surface wear, as expected with age. Otherwise, both are intact and excellent.

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May 26, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000