Rare Nabataean Bronze Female Votive Figurine

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Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Asia

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 25, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-25 11:00:00 2018-10-25 11:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Italy, Asia https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/antiquities-from-egypt-greece-italy-asia-3538
Featuring Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, plus Asian art from Central and Far East. If you love the classics, this is the sale for you. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Near East, northern Arabia / southern Levant, Nabataean people, ca. 1st century CE. A bronze female figurine, petite in form, standing atop a pair of delineated legs. Constricted shoulders lead downward to one outstretched arm which holds the remnants of an unidentifiable object, and a pair of nubbin bulbs rest in the center of her chest. Her timeless visage is composed of recessed almond-shaped eyes, a prominent nose, diminutive ears, and thin lips, all beneath a simple hat. Noteworthy to this piece are the dozens of Aramaic letters etched into both sides of the torso. This ancient script indicates that she was likely a votive offering bearer or perhaps a priestess. Scattered areas of light-green patina nicely complement the chocolate-hued patina, with areas of russet patina along the verso. Enigmatic and exceptionally rare, this is a fantastic figurine from the ancient Near East! Custom lucite display stand included. Size: 2.625" H (6.7 cm); 4.75" H (12.1 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  The Nabataean kingdom controlled a string of oases that linked trade between southern Arabia (where many forms of incense required for religious worship were created) and the Greco-Roman world, and flourished throughout most of the 1st century CE. The Nabataean sphere of influence extended far into the Arabian Peninsula towards Yemen along the Red Sea. Its capital of Ragmu (present-day Petra) was one of the largest and most highly-frequented cosmopolitan marketplaces in the Near East, though it was only one in a string of Nabataean settlements strung out in an area with very limited resources.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA 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.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #132470

  Condition

  Losses to one arm, held offering, both feet, small area of top of head, and portion of verso. Repaired at midsection with light adhesive residue along break line. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, fading to facial features and inscribed writing, with some discoloration, otherwise excellent. Light earthen deposits within recessed areas, and nice green, brown, and russet patina throughout.
• Shipping Info

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