Antiquities and Ancient Art: A Study

Sale 1035

Live

| Chicago

May 26 | 11:00 AM EDT

Live

| Chicago

Lot 208

Lot 208

A Palmyrene Limestone Relief

Status:

Closed

Estimate: $30,000 - $50,000

Estimate$30,000 – $50,000

Status

Closed

A Palmyrene Limestone Relief

Circa 3rd Century A.D.

24 x 27 inches. 24 x 34 inches.

Property from a Midwest Private Collection

Provenance:

Royal Athena Galleries, New York, 2002.

Note:

Unlike the more common funerary relief busts that are forward facing, this relief (now in two parts) is in profile and depicts two merchants, one with saddled horse and the other with loaded camel, engaging in trade. The caravan city of Palmyra was a popular destination for traders along the Silk Road. Goods from both the East and West were frequently exchanged which in turn brought prosperity and wealth to the region. It is probable the deceased for which this relief was commissioned was a wealthy merchant.

Two separate panels intact as preserved on a single moveable metal mount; verso of panels have been drilled to accommodate the metal mounts. Left panel with horizontal crack meandering across horse's legs, palm tree, and at left boarder. Larger loses to horse's front legs with minor loses and chips overall. Subtle infilling on cracks typical of ancient limestone reliefs only evident under UV light. Fine, stable and attractive condition overall.

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Please contact the Auction Specialist for details.

Jacob Coley

Senior Vice President, Head of Department, Antiquities and Ancient Art

[email protected]312 280 1212

Mr. Coley joined the Antiquities department in 2021 after working as Managing Director in the Ancient Art department at Colnaghi, the world’s oldest commercial art gallery, where he helped to establish the Ancient Art department and launched Colnaghi New York in 2017. Prior to Colnaghi, Mr. Coley was in the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Mr. Coley holds a B.A. from the University of Miami and an M.A. in Art Market from the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he earned an art-appraisal certificate from New York University.

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Antiquities and Ancient Art: A Study

A Palmyrene Limestone Relief

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