Description: 3rd millennium BC. A lapis lazuli carving of a pair of reclining bulls facing away from each other; horns curving to the front of the head, eyes recessed for inlay, legs tucked under the body; mounted on a custom-made stand. Exhibited: Musée d'Art et d'Histoire Genève Exhibition, 30 March-20 September 2000: Animaux d'Art et d'Histoire - Bestiaire de Collections Genevoises (Animals of Art and of History, Bestiary of Genevan Collections); also for a similar example see: Michael C Carlos Museum - Emory University, accession number np.2016. Published: Musée d'Art et d'Histoire Genève Exhibition, 30 March-20 September 2000: Animaux d'Art et d'Histoire - Bestiaire de Collections Genevoises (Animals of Art and of History, Bestiary of Genevan Collections), cat.no.20. 130 grams, 43mm (11.5cm including stand) (4 1/2"). From an important London collection of animal amulets formed in the 1970s; some published and many previously exhibited; accompanied by the relevant pages of Animaux D'Art et D'Histoire, Geneva, Switzerland, 2000, cat.no.20. The bull played an important role in Mesopotamian society, particularly being thought to symbolise a storm god whose attributes include the thunderbolt. Thunderclouds are referred to as the 'bull-calves' of the storm god Adad. It is possible that the sound of a bull charging was likened to the rumbling of thunder, and this, along with the fertility of the animal, brought it to be associated with life giving rains that were believed to be the gift of the storm god. [A video of this item is available to view on TimeLine Auctions website.] Condition Report: Very fine condition.