Provincial Roman Marble Funerary Stele

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DAY 1 | Classical Antiquities & Asian Art

By Artemis Gallery

Dec 5, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-12-05 10:00:00 2018-12-05 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : DAY 1 | Classical Antiquities & Asian Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/day-1-classical-antiquities-asian-art-3698
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring ancient and ethnographic art from around the world. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Viking, Near Eastern plus Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, India, more. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Late Roman, Imperial Period, possibly Phrygian, ca. 3rd century CE. Skillfully carved from a single piece of white marble, a funerary stele or commemorative marker that depicts a family of three individuals - from left to right, two males and a female. All present similar expressions comprised of large open eyes with delineated pupils, thick lids, and arched brows, an aquiline nose, and gently smiling lips. Their facial planes are modeled so as to emphasize full cheeks, rounded chins, and arched foreheads. The males are presented with combed back coiffures and the female has a veil that curls at its lower ends so as to suggest breasts. Just who might this grave stele commemorate? Siblings? Cousins? We may never know. Nevertheless, it is a special example that marks the transition from naturalistic and idealized artistic expressions of the Classical World to the more symbolic visages that would be associated with the Middle Ages centuries later. Size: 21" W x 16" H (53.3 cm x 40.6 cm); 19" H (48.3 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Prior to the 2nd century, Romans cremated the deceased. But in time, inspired by the Greek and Etruscan practice of using sarcophagi, they began to place the deceased in sarcophagi. This practice spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire. In the western part of the Empire, sarcophagi were placed inside a mausoleum against a wall or in a niche, so the only decorated panels were on the front and short sides.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-William Froelich Collection, New York, USA, 1960's
  
  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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #140286

  Condition

  Losses to peripheries as shown. Abrasions to surface, especially to high pointed areas such as the noses, lips, and chins of the figures. Stable fissures at upper end. Iron rich stain over left-most bust and a few lighter stains here and there. Still, an overall very nice piece of funerary art.
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