Greek Classical Marble Stele, Relief of Woman

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Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 19, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-05-19 10:00:00 2022-05-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographica-fine-art-9350
Featuring a very special collection of Fine Art from the Hollywood Hills, including Picasso & Rookwood ceramics! Also included are many fine examples of classical antiquities, ancient, and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Classical to Hellenistic Period, ca. 5th to 3rd century CE. A stunning marble funerary stele hand-carved to depict the relief of a woman in profile. Facing right, the solemn female bows her head. Her elegant countenance features generously lidded eyes, a Greek nose, bow lips and a round chin. A veil covers her coiffure, held back by her naturalistic ear as she raises her left hand to her face, grasping a petite object - perhaps a piece of jewelry - between her thumb and forefinger, at which she directs her gaze. Meticulously sculpted, folds of a peplos flow down her chest, modestly enveloping her body. Note how the artist's careful attention to detail renders flesh from stone and life to the recently departed. Size: 8.8" W x 12.8" H (22.4 cm x 32.5 cm)
  
  According to the Wilcox Classical Museum at the University of Kansas, "In antiquity, as today, carved tombstones were expensive, and served as indicators of wealth and status, in addition to commemorating the dead. Because Greek society was patriarchal, public roles for women were bound by social custom. Women, however, were responsible for tending individual and family tombs, and women were appropriate subjects for representation in funerary art."
  
  Intended to memorialize the dead, the deceased is shown here as partaking in an act of daily life - adorning oneself with jewelry - allowing the viewer to recall the dead by gazing upon a seemingly generic domestic scene. The evident reference to jewelry or adornment (kosmos, from which we get our term "cosmetics") could even refer to the duty of a wife and mother to keep her belongings, and her home, in good order (kosmein).
  
  Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 52.11.3 and National Archaeological Museum, Athens, 3624.
  
  Provenance: private Round Rock, Texas, USA collection, acquired in Greece in 1938
  
  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.
  
  #171713

  Condition

  Fragment of a larger piece. Chipping to peripheries. Some nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining detail.
• Shipping Info

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