Late Roman / Early Byzantine Period, ca. 5th to 7th century CE. A handsome marble casket, rectangular in profile and carved to serve as an ossuary. The exterior front is decorated with a motif of two cherub or putti heads, each nestled in the curve of a large vine swag with acanthus leaves at the corners and the center; this pattern (minus the cherub heads) continues onto the sides. Marks on the interior show the use of stonemasons' tools, allowing us to visualize how this item was made. A lower lip around the base provides stability. Size: 12" L x 20.2" W x 12.3" H (30.5 cm x 51.3 cm x 31.2 cm)
Romans who lived in the eastern part of the empire - especially Jewish people in the Holy Land - commonly used ossuaries instead of large stone sarcophagi, and this casket likely comes from that region. The carved artwork on its face connects it to Roman themes - the cherubs, acanthus leaves, and vines were all important symbols associated with Roman funerary rituals.
Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in May 2014; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA (auction #70, May 15, 2014, lot 359); ex-private Florida, USA collection, acquired in the 1990s; ex-private old New York, USA collection
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#149607
Condition
One side has been expertly repaired/restored from plaster; this is approximately 40% of the piece, but is not visible when viewed from the front. The restored side simply looks like one side of the piece is heavily weathered. The unrestored areas feature small fissures that do not threaten the stability of the piece. Rich deposits on surface and the artwork on the front and sides are nicely preserved.