Translated South Arabian Stone Funerary Stele w/ Face

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Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities Asian Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

May 22, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-05-22 10:00:00 2019-05-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities Asian Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-1-antiquities-asian-fine-art-4129
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional art from around the world - Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern; Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, India; Fine Art from the 17th century to present. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Ancient Middle East, South Arabia, Qatabanian culture, ca. 3rd century BCE to 1st century CE. A striking pale yellow-white stone slab, a high-relief funerary stele, with a carved abstract human face presenting an inverted triangular profile, a slender nose between almond-shaped eyes, slender lips, and perky ears, all beneath a tall forehead. The tall, rectangular plaque has flat faces and peripheries, and a three-character name of "Aws," a popular name during this time, inscribed below the face. Lightly-drilled recesses denoting the pupils suggest the eyes were at one time adorned with bright colors, and faint traces of original orange-red pigment are still visible around the peripheries. Size: 7.5" W x 14.875" H (19 cm x 37.8 cm); 18" H (45.7 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.
  
  For a stylistically-similar example, please see The British Museum, museum number 1995,0124.1: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=271702&partId=1&searchText=arabian+ancient&page=1
  
  Another stylistically-similar example of a slightly-smaller size hammered for $11,875 at Christie's Special Exhibition Gallery Antiquities auction (sale 2490, December 7, 2011, lot 23): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/ancient-art-antiquities/a-south-arabian-limestone-pillar-stela-for-5509059-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=5509059&sid=e325e265-8cd6-48be-8023-2e89624dfaa4
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Connecticut, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s; ex-private collection, acquired in the 1930s and 1940s
  
  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.
  
  #144096

  Condition

  Losses along edges and bottom as shown. Face is nicely preserved as are the letters at the base. Minor abrasions to obverse, peripheries, and reverse, with fading to original pigmentation. Light earthen deposits throughout.
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