Sabean Head of White Alabaster

Culture: South Arabia

Period: 1st century B.C. – 1st century A.D.

Material: Alabaster

Dimensions: 10.3 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 6151

Provenance: Collection Hammoud, Switzerland, acquired in the early 1980s. Thence in an English auction house. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register from 21 September 2017.

Condition: Inlays in the eyes maybe added later, some breaks are stabilized.

Description: Sabean head possibly of a man with a strong expression. Eyebrows, mouth and hairline are engraved in stone, the eyes are deeply pierced and with bone inlays. The votive head which once stood in a niche, is on top, on the sides and on the back flat. The break on the neck indicates that it possibly once belonged to a larger figure.