Property from the Collection of the late Antonin and Chri🍌stiane Besse
A South Arabian Alabaster Fragment of a Left Arm, probably Kingdom of Awsan , circa 1st Century B.C.
Auction Closed
December 7, 04:32 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Collection of th🀅e late Antonin a🍃nd Christiane Besse
A South Arabian Alabaster Fragment of a Left Arm, probably Kingdom of𒆙 Awsan
circa 1st Century B.C.
finely carved, wearing a tight-fitting short-sleeved garment with beaded hem and incised band of scrolling acanthus (simulating embroidery?), armband above the elbow in the form of a chain strಌa🎀p with a central oval, gem-set motif, and tassels falling over the forearm, probably from a now missing bracelet.
Height 16.5 cm.
reportedly from Marib
Antonin Besse (1927-2016) and Christiane Besse (1928-2021), Aden and Paris, acquired in Yemen in the 1960s, collection number CB2 A&B (recorded for export to France by the Department of Antiquities, Aden State, in May 1966 and April 1967)
by descent to the present owner
Antonin Besse (1927-2016) and Christiane Besse (1928-2021), Aden and Paris, acquired in Yemen in the 1960s, collection number CB2 A&B (recorded for export to France by the Department of Antiquities, Aden State, in May 1966 and April 1967)
by descent to the present owner
The armlet is closely related to the one worn by Ma'adîl Salhân, King of Awsan, on his statuette in the Aden National Museum (Yémen, Au pays de la reine de Saba, Paris, 1997, p. 201, and S. Antonini, La statuaria sudarabica in pietra, Paris and Rome, 2001, p. 93, C56, pl. 46, and //www.akg-images.co.uk/archive/-2UMDHUTKD82O.html).