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THBSasanian Stucco Plaque with Ibexes, ex Sotheby's
Lot 65a
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
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$50,000 - $75,000
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Oct 8, 2020
Set Reminder
2020-10-08 10:00:00
2020-10-08 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5796
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, 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, Etruscan, 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 (353)
- Lot Description
Near East, Sasanian culture, ca. 6th century CE. A stunning cream hued stucco expertly modeled in high relief depicting two confronted leaping ibexes eating from a grapevine. Standing nearly erect, both mountain ibexes seem to leap forward on their two hindlegs, layering their curved front legs upon the climbing plant, and all but knocking hooves. Their round bearded snouts angle upward with elongated horns draping down their backs almost reaching their petite tails - their beady eyes focused on the potential feast before them, as they reach to grab at the sweet grape vines. A twisting vine adorned with gorgeous swirling filigrees, trefoil leaves, and bunches of bulbous grapes divides the image vertically, ascending between the two beasts, splitting into two branches at their front hooves, and each culminating in a cluster of grapes above each ibex's head. A gorgeous example of Sasanian pastoral art! Size: 14.25" L x 1.625" W x 18.25" H (36.2 cm x 4.1 cm x 46.4 cm)
The larger scale and form of the left ibex, along with the small bulge emerging from its groin and lack thereof on the right ibex, suggests this is a male and female pair, perchance intended as a romantic coupling. A stucco relief such as this one would have served as a beautiful wall decoration in the iwan or reception hall of the Sasanian elite. Animal motifs were highly popular as stucco wall decorations in Sasanian culture and frequently depicted animals found near the palace or house in which they were placed. In this case, the decor represents two main staples of the Sasanian diet, wild goats (ibexes are a species of mountain goat) and wine, and is symbolic of prosperity. Given that this is piece depicts a male and female pair, the stucco may also represent love, fertility, and procreation.
Though slightly larger and containing additional details, two similar plaques can be found at the Cincinnati Art Museum under accession numbers 1972.542 and 1972.543.
Sotheby's states in their catalogue entry for this piece, "Related examples are in the Louvre (Pope, Persian Art, pl. 177E, E. Porada, The Art of Ancient Iran, New York, 1965, p. 215, pl. 58, and Les Perses sassanides, p. 55, no. 8), the Staatliche Museen, Berlin (K. Erdman, Die Kunst Irans zur Zeit der Sasaniden, Berlin, 1943, no. 38), as well as in Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Boston. Also see Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, December 1st, 1972, nos. 305-307, and J. Kröger, Sasanidischer Stuckdekor, Mainz am Rhein, pp. 207-208, pl. 99."
Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; ex-Sotheby's New York, June 7, 2007 lot 96; ex Habib Anavian, New York, 1960s
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#156100Professionally repaired from several pieces with some cracks and restorative matter present, especially visible down the center, on the back side, and on each corner. Comprised of three layers, there is some expected exposure of the interior string support on the upper and left sides and chips both missing and restored to all sides. Minor chips have been reapplied on front legs of right ibex and small patching of right ibex's hind leg. Very light fading of detail in some minute areas as commensurate with age. Lovely earthen deposits add character to this remarkable piece.Condition
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