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THBSouth Arabian Alabaster Libation Table w/ Bull & Ibexes
Lot 53b
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:
$34,000 - $51,000
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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
Aug 26, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-08-26 10:00:00
2021-08-26 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-7366
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (343)
- Lot Description
South Arabia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, probably Qatabanian culture, ca. 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE. A huge slab of thick alabaster, carved into a table with a slightly raised border, a smooth, flat interior, squared-off edges, and, at one shorter side, a short projection with a high relief head of a bull flanked by the heads of four ibexes. The bull head has a shallow groove between its horns that serves as a drain. The drain, for allowing sacrificial blood to flow off its smooth surface, allows us to imagine the sacrificial offerings being made. The animals are delightfully stylized in a classically South Arabian manner, with wonderfully symmetrical form, while the alabaster glows a warm cream color in any light, with bands of red-brown snaking across its surface. Size: 27.35" L x 16.7" W x 6.4" H (69.5 cm x 42.4 cm x 16.3 cm)
The people of ancient South Arabia practiced a form of paganism that would ultimately be replaced by Islam, and that is largely lost to us today. It involved ritual sacrifice of animals, using tables like this one, and worship of powerful beings who often took animal form. For example, the bull's face symbolizes Anbay, the chief god, who was a deity of justice - indeed, his name was even invoked in the ancient Arabian kingdom of Qataban for the filing of paperwork and the regulating of resources! The ibexes, meanwhile, symbolize virility and evoke the taming of the wild associated with the hunt.
A similar table, featuring only ibexes, sold for $52,500 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 2056, December 8, 2008, lot 54)
Provenance: East Coast, USA collection; ex major New York Gallery before 2011
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#146020Small losses to peripheries, notably the lower edge, with scratches, chips, and nicks commensurate with age. Overall the piece is in very nice condition, unrepaired and with light deposits.Condition
- Shipping Info
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