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THBRoman Holy Land Carved Limestone Ossuary w/ Lid
Lot 79
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$6,000 - $9,000
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Bid Increments
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|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Jun 10, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-06-10 10:00:00
2021-06-10 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-7012
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Viking, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Viking, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine Art, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (408)
- Lot Description
Roman, Holy Land, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A carved limestone ossuary with incised floral, geometric, and architectural motifs. Its lid is undecorated, made of a simple carved slab of limestone. The exterior has been painted an earthy red color, with the motifs incised into the surface of one long side so that they are the natural creamy white color of the limestone against the red foreground. The interior of the box also has some lightly painted red pigment in X-forms on its sides. Size: 6.95" L x 17.4" W x 8.05" H (17.7 cm x 44.2 cm x 20.4 cm)
For about two centuries prior to the Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jewish people in the Roman Holy Land practiced ossilegium, a secondary burial in a box like this one. In the first stage of burial, the body was placed into a pit or, in the case of more elite members of society, into a niche or bench in a tomb. A year later, when the soft tissue had decomposed, family members collected the deceased and placed their bones into an ossuary like this one. This was placed into a niche in the family tomb. This was an important event in the family, and also a religious act, designed to ensure the purification of the deceased's soul. The decorative motifs on the body may be wishes for rebirth, but may also have been inspired by the architecture of the Temple.
A similar example without a lid sold at Christie's in 2014 for $10,625: https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/an-early-jewish-limestone-ossuary-roman-period-5800623-details.aspx
Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado collection; ex-private Houston, Texas, USA collection, before 2006
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.
#148576Lid is repaired from two pieces and has had two thin modern strips added to its interior to stabilize the repair. These are not visible unless the box is open. Exterior is in nice condition, with a few small chips and nicks commensurate with age. Motifs are in good condition and generally very clear. Light encrustation on surface, notably on the upper part of the lid.Condition
- Shipping Info
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