A South Arabian Alabaster Head of a Man, Qatabân, circa 2nd/1st Century B.C.

with naturalistic features, short moustache in shallow relief, eyes recessed for inlays, eyebrows with remains of inlay, and finely carved ears.

German private collection, 1980s
Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel

Christie's, London, October 18th, 2005, no. 96, illus.

As shown and described, note chipped nose, top of forehead, and eye perimeters, proper right side of neck is missing, small chip on top of proper left ear, hairline crack follows vertical vein which transects entire head, eye inlays missing as shown, root mark impressions on proper left cheek area, surface of face may have been slightly repolished during cleaning.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

For other naturalistically rendered portrait heads, a rare occurrence in South Arabian funerary art, see S. Antonini, La statuaria sudarabica in pietra, Paris and Rome, 2001, p. 89, C45, pl. 43 and Yémen, au pays de la reine de Saba, Paris, 1997, p. 99 (Antonini, op. cit., p. 91, C51, pl. 44).