CSAI

Corpus of South Arabian Inscriptions


By kind permission of British Museum

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

DepositLondon, The British Museum, BM 141554=1985,0223.29
NotesDonated by D.B. Doe, MBE.

SUPPORT INFORMATION

Support typeArtefact » Sculpture in the round » Human figure
MaterialAlabaster
Measuresh. 22.7, w. 9, th. 7.1
Decoration
Figurative subjectFurniture » Seat
Figurative subjectHuman figure
      GenderWoman
      Part of human bodyComplete figure
      Human gestureSitting, Arms stretching out
      Human clothes and attributesTunic
Notes on support and decorationsA female figure, wearing a long, plain robe, carved in highly polished, orange-veined calcite-alabaster.
From the front this figure appears to be standing, but when viewed from the side it is clear that she is seated on a stool. She has a large head, and the top is flat, emphasizing the large masses of hair on either side her face. The features of the face are carefully depicted and comprise lidded eyes, a strong rectangular nose and projecting brow ridge, and full lips in low relief. The figure has a thick cylindrical neck, angular shoulders and elbows and there are incised lines indicating the curved fingers in the clenched hands. Small, slightly protruding breasts are positioned between the arms. Square shapes are carved into either side leaving four stool legs in higher relief.
The back of the head is roughly carved with a distinct neck; the arms and waist are also demarcated on the back.

ORIGIN AND PROVENANCE

Origin
Modern siteUnknown
Ancient siteUnknown
Geographical areaUnknown
CountryUnknown
Archaeological contextFunerary context
Link to site record

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antonini 2001: 54, pl. 17Antonini, Sabina 2001. La statuaria sudarabica in pietra. Repertorio iconografico sudarabico. 1. Paris: de Boccard / Rome: IsIAO. [Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres; Istituto Italiano per l'Africa e l'Oriente]