Alabaster head of a youth, c. 1st century B.C. - 1st century AD

Description

mounted on stone base

Head of great beauty worked in clear reduced forms.

During the first millennium BCE, this part of the world saw several kingdoms – Qataban, Saba (Sheba), and Himyar – emerge that had built their wealth upon desert trade and in particular frankincense and myrrh. The people of these kingdoms created figural representations from alabaster and other stones, including stele with high relief faces honoring the deceased like this one.

The unique style of these head sculptures, with their narrow faces set on overly long necks, seems to have particularly inspired modern artists, especially Modigliani and Picasso.

Notices

This object is subject to the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Protection Act. Export documents are required for export (subjected to a fee).