Lot 32B
Roman, Asia Minor/Western Anatolia, Phrygia, Imperial Period, ca. 3rd century CE. A hand-carved white marble stele depicting a pair of standing figures wearing identical himations in low relief within a central tondo. The rightmost figure holds a tall staff, perhaps a schematic representation of a torch, and the leftmost figure holds the scales of justice in his/her outer hand. Both figures don similar curly coiffures, though the sex of each of uncertain. Beneath the two figures are three lines of inscribed Greek text that when translated read, "Timotheos dedicated (this relief) to the holy and just god." The inscription identifies the man being honored as well as the holy recipient of his piety. Mounted with metal bracket on verso for suspension. Size: 10" W x 12.5" H (25.4 cm x 31.8 cm).
The "holy and just god" is a popular deity in Asia Minor as attested by other votive inscriptions that have survived (Mendel, Gustave. Mesees Imperiaux Ottomas: Catalogue des Sculptures Grecques, Romaines et Byzantines. Istanbul, 1914, vol. 3, pp. 52-56). Though the exact character of this deity remains shrouded in obscurity, evidence from other reliefs suggests that it could be a syncretistic combination of aspects of various other gods. The manner in which depicted figures are holding hands in this stele is indicative of great friendship or perhaps love, and this affection was intended to be memorialized for ages when carved on this modest stele (Cremer, Marielouise. "Die Hand des Gallos." Epigraphica Anatolica 8, 1986, pp. 103-106). Though this example may be of an earlier Phrygian artistic style, it is evocative of a style whose development probably stretched across the entire 3rd century CE and continued into the Byzantine period. As is typical of the products of the Roman Empire, this "Phrygian style" co-opts Graeco-Roman motifs and renders them in the local artistic idiom, thus creating another hybrid production so characteristic of Roman provincial art.
Provenance: private San Francisco, California, USA collection; ex-Mr. & Mrs. Elliot Picket collection, New York, New York, USA, acquired 1988; ex-Marvin Kagan Art, Inc., New York, New York, USA, inventory number S0855
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.
#136292
- Condition: Restoration to some peripheral areas and bottom of verso, with some new material for stabilization. Surface wear, abrasions, and roughness commensurate with age as expected, fading to carved figural details and lettering, losses to bottom corners and some peripheral areas, with a few stable hairline fissures across obverse and reverse, and some yellowing to marble surfaces. Nice earthen deposits throughout.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
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 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |