Lot 93
Ancient Near East, Mesopotamia, Mari (Tell Hariri), ca. 2500 BCE. An incredibly striking stone relief sculpture of a man's face in profile. White and blue stones are inlaid to form a staring eye. The blue is lapis lazuli, a testament to the long distance trade of the city with Afghanistan. The man's face is gaunt, dominated by the eye, with a large brow and sunken cheek. His small mouth and nose are also visible, with the texture of the stone scored along the side of the face to create a well-kept beard. A large ear and flowing hair that sits atop his forehead below his cap complete the sculpture. Behind him is what looks like a floral motif. This relief may have decorated a tomb or a piece of public art. Size: 3.85" W x 3.8" H (9.8 cm x 9.7 cm); 5.5" H (14 cm) on included custom stand.
Mari was an ancient Semitic city in modern-day Syria, purposely built in the center of the lucrative Euphrates River trade routes, that served as an intermediary between Sumer to its south and the Levant to its west. The city seems to have been full of immigrants, with people worshipping many different gods, including Semitic and Sumerian ones; the name Mari is probably derived from Mer, a northern Mesopotamian storm deity and the patron of the city. Excavations by French archaeologist Andre Parrot at the site led to the discovery of several temples, which included artwork like this.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Florida, USA collection, acquired in the 1980s
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.
#148386
- Condition: Head is a fragment of a larger relief, with losses at top and bottom. Nice details on what remains with light deposits and wear commensurate with age.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |