Lot 24A
Roman, later Imperial Period, rom the Roman provinces, ca. late 2nd to 4th century CE. A striking marble sarcophagus section - probably part of the interior body - portraying a bearded man staring straight out at the viewer. His mouth is slightly open with a thin moustache on his upper lip, his subtle facial features framed by locks of hair cascading to his one visible shoulder. The man looks to have been carved wearing a flowing chiton and standing next to a curved framework or possibly a staff of some kind. Standing vigilant for centuries, this is a wonderful depiction of how ancient Romans protected their dead. Comes with custom wooden stand. Size: 7" W x 8.625" H (17.8 cm x 21.9 cm); 10.625" H (27 cm) on included custom stand.
In the 2nd century CE, sarcophagi became common in Rome, representing a shift in burial style from cremation to inhumation. Coffins could be made of wood, stone, lead, and, most luxuriously, marble. Most of these were low, rectangular shapes with flat lids, made to be placed on a wall or niche inside a mausoleum, so sides that would be visible would be highly decorated. It seems likely that individuals or their families commissioned specific subjects in order to commemorate the dead, and that artisans would have worked closely with them to realize their designs. What importance might a figure like this one have had to the deceased? It is interesting to imagine the kind of person that this figure commemorates.
Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired over the last twenty years
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#129806
- Condition: This piece is a fragment, with losses along peripheries and carved details, including the clothing and face of the man. Expected age-commensurate surface wear, light discoloration to marble, and overall weathering to stone surfaces as shown. Light mineral and earthen deposits throughout.
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