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THBTranslated South Arabian Limestone Stele ABYD
Lot 97
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:
$11,000 - $16,500
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| $0 | $25 |
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| $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
Mar 9, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-03-09 10:00:00
2023-03-09 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (413)
- Lot Description
**Originally Listed At $6000**
Ancient Middle East, South Arabia, Qatabanian culture, ca. 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE. A striking limestone stele finely carved with a high-relief head above an inscription of 4 Qatabanian characters spelling out the name "Abyd." The head displays an abstract visage with a triangular nose, wide almond-shaped eyes, a petite mouth, a prominent brow ridge, well-groomed eyebrows, and the suggestion of a crown or headdress with a chinstrap. Unusual for these stelae, this example also has ears. At one time, this figure would have had inset eyes with pupils made of shell or some other soft material. The inscribed name, Abyd, is likely that of the deceased or dedicant. Size: 8.4" W x 16.3" H (21.3 cm x 41.4 cm); 19" H (48.3 cm) on included custom stand.
The deceased in this part of the world were often represented by anthropomorphic funerary stelae like this one; however, the face is highly stylized and it is doubtful that this is a portrait of a known individual. They have been found in three areas, one of which was the cemetery at Tamna, the capital city of Qataban. The Kingdom of Qataban rose to prominence in the second half of the 1st millennium BCE, because it controlled the trade in frankincense and myrrh, incenses required to be burned at altars during religious rituals further north and west. A haunting and rare artifact, certain to spark conversation, and a reminder of the deeper history of the Middle East.
This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
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.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired in September 2015; ex-Munich, Germany collection, acquired in 2015; ex-English collection, acquired from the 1960s - 1970s
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.
#175466Some chipping and wear to edges, as well as nicks and abrasions to surface, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with very clear inscription and nice preservation of detail.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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