Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art Part I

Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art Part I

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 15. A South Arabian Aniconic Stele, Qataban, circa 1st Century A.D..

Property from the Collection of the late Antonin and Christiane Besse

A South Arabian Aniconic Stele, Qataban, circa 1st Century A.D.

VAT reduced rate

Auction Closed

December 7, 04:32 PM GMT

Estimate

2,000 - 3,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from the Collection of the late Antonin and Christiane Besse

A South Arabian Aniconic Stele, Qataban

circa 1st Century A.D.


of flaring form with rounded top, the integral base finely engraved with a single line of South Arabic inscription (ʾbẖlṭ S¹flyn).

Height 20 cm.


reportedly from Beihan, probably from Hayd ibn 'Aqil, the necropolis of ancient Timna'
Antonin Besse (1927-2016) and Christiane Besse (1928-2021), Aden and Paris, acquired in Yemen in 1960, collection no. CB67 (recorded for export by the Department of Antiquities, Aden State, in May 1968)
by descent to the present owner

For a related stela carved in one piece with its inscribed base (instead of inserted into a separate one) and with rounded rather than concave top see British Museum, reg. no. 1985,0223.61 (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/W_1985-0223-61).