Egypt, Romano-Egyptian period, ca. 1st century BCE to 4th century CE. Skillfully carved from bovine bone, a beautiful image of two female maidens, each one dressed in a billowing peplos with meticulously delineated drapery folds - the figure on the left shown from neckline to hemline with the blousing or kolpos flowing over her attractive form and her right arm gracefully held out before her - the figure to the right holding a bunch of grapes - perhaps a reference to the cult of Bacchus (Greek equivalent Dionysus). Size: 4.25" H (10.8 cm); attached to velvet covered wooden mount that measures 5.625" H (14.3 cm)
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-private East Coast, USA collection
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#157313
Condition
A fragment from a larger piece with a few small chips to peripheries as shown. Nice patina - rich and lustrous - commensurate with age. Old collector's label on verso states, "Bone fragment Roman from Egypt 1st - 5th cent. AD", however, we believe the dating is 1st to 4th century CE.