In Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu is recognized as the king of wind demons. He is the son of Hanbi, the lord of all evil forces, and the brother of Humbaba, the fearsome guardian of the Cedar Forest. Pazuzu was believed to be a powerful defense against demonic attacks from other demons, especially Lamashtu, a female demon with broad and far-ranging destructive powers, especially feared by pregnant women and those with newborns, who were her favored (but not only) victims.
The earliest depiction of Pazuzu dates back to the late eighth century BCE, which is relatively late in the development of demonic imagery in Mesopotamia. At this time, the Assyrian royal administration was deeply invested in collecting magical knowledge and studying the supernatural world. Priests and exorcists were actively involved in codifying various systems of this knowledge.
As a result, a wide range of magical images emerged, including this molded pendant, its horned, bearded head with bulging eyes and snarling canine mouth depicting the demon god Pazuzu. Made from Egyptian blue composition, it has been perforated through the head for suspension and modern set on an adjustable 18" adjustable chain of 18K yellow gold suitable for wearing.
Medium: Egyptian Blue, gold
Dimensions: Height: 3/4 in. (1.9 cm.) Modern strung on an adjustable 18" chain of 18K yellow gold.
Condition: The pendant is intact and in very good condition overall with excellent surface patina.
Provenance: Elias S. David (1891-1969) private collection and then by descent. Thereafter private NYC. collection, acquired from Christie’s Dec. 9, 2015, lot 161 (part).
Elias S. David (1891-1969) was one of the most prominent dealers of ancient Near Eastern art during the mid 20th century. David was born in the east, likely Lebanon or Iraq, and was sent to boarding school in Paris at the age of 12. He first began dealing in art while in Paris, and then moved to New York at the start of World War I in 1914. While he briefly had a gallery, he preferred to work from home. Many masterpieces passed through his hands and are now in some of the great museums of the world, including the Louvre, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. He had a wide circle of friends in the art world, including Fellow dealer Pierro Tozzi, scholar Edith Porada, and collectors such as Natacha Rambova, Leon Pomerance, Norbert Schimmel and Alastair Bradley Martin. Charles K. Wilkinson, curator of Near Eastern Art at The Met from 1956-1963 was a frequent dinner guest at the David home. Correspondence between Wilkinson and others at The Met from the 1940s-1960s not only documents his activities as a dealer, but informs how his generosity towards the museum led to his being honored as a Fellow of the Museum for life. This privilege was extended to his wife after his death in 1969.
