61b
Roman Stone Mosaic with Dancing Bacchic Figures
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Description
Late Roman or Early Byzantine, the Levant, late Imperial Period, ca. 4th to 6th century CE. A very fine Roman mosaic comprised of thousands of stone tesserae, the rectangular composition depicting three dancers - two male figures flanking a central female. The males are both presented in composite profile, their bodies oriented toward the female, and each holds a lovely strand of green beads - the man on the left also holds a deer. The female assumes a dramatic pose with her arms extended out toward the beaded strands held by her male partners, her torso turned in 3/4 view, her left leg bent at the knee, and her right leg extended out. The figures are meticulously modeled with tiny colorful tesserae of gradated beige, salmon, grey, black, and white hues. The man on the left is nude save a grey cape over his shoulder and grey foot coverings with ties around the legs. The man on the right wears a blousy shirt and anklets on otherwise nude legs. The female wears voluminous garments, green double bracelets, and a twisted coiffure. Size: 68" W x 24.75" H (172.7 cm x 62.9 cm); 70.75" W x 27.25" H (179.7 cm x 69.2 cm) w/ matrix
Perhaps these are Bacchic ceremonial dancers. Perhaps they are theatrical performers. The Romans are known for developing entertainment ampitheatres built of stone and establishing a vibrant theatre tradition - the most famous ampitheatre of them all being the Colosseum. On the Colosseum's upper galleries are mosaics of dancers and actors. Music and dance were beloved forms of entertainment in Roman theatre. Although no written ancient music has survived in legible form, we can still use our imaginations to hear the sounds created by harpists, flautists, and tambourine players.
Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, appreciated not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics seem to have developed as a common art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Swiss collection, acquired in the 1990s from M. Farid Ziadeh
Condition: Old chips and fissures to some tesserae with some losses as shown, but the imagery is still quite vivid. Tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix with metal framing. Suspension holes on the verso.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#146421
Perhaps these are Bacchic ceremonial dancers. Perhaps they are theatrical performers. The Romans are known for developing entertainment ampitheatres built of stone and establishing a vibrant theatre tradition - the most famous ampitheatre of them all being the Colosseum. On the Colosseum's upper galleries are mosaics of dancers and actors. Music and dance were beloved forms of entertainment in Roman theatre. Although no written ancient music has survived in legible form, we can still use our imaginations to hear the sounds created by harpists, flautists, and tambourine players.
Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, appreciated not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics seem to have developed as a common art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Swiss collection, acquired in the 1990s from M. Farid Ziadeh
Condition: Old chips and fissures to some tesserae with some losses as shown, but the imagery is still quite vivid. Tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix with metal framing. Suspension holes on the verso.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#146421
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Late Roman or Early Byzantine, the Levant, late Imperial Period, ca. 4th to 6th century CE. A very fine Roman mosaic comprised of thousands of stone tesserae, the rectangular composition depicting three dancers - two male figures flanking a central female. The males are both presented in composite profile, their bodies oriented toward the female, and each holds a lovely strand of green beads - the man on the left also holds a deer. The female assumes a dramatic pose with her arms extended out toward the beaded strands held by her male partners, her torso turned in 3/4 view, her left leg bent at the knee, and her right leg extended out. The figures are meticulously modeled with tiny colorful tesserae of gradated beige, salmon, grey, black, and white hues. The man on the left is nude save a grey cape over his shoulder and grey foot coverings with ties around the legs. The man on the right wears a blousy shirt and anklets on otherwise nude legs. The female wears voluminous garments, green double bracelets, and a twisted coiffure. Size: 68" W x 24.75" H (172.7 cm x 62.9 cm); 70.75" W x 27.25" H (179.7 cm x 69.2 cm) w/ matrix
Perhaps these are Bacchic ceremonial dancers. Perhaps they are theatrical performers. The Romans are known for developing entertainment ampitheatres built of stone and establishing a vibrant theatre tradition - the most famous ampitheatre of them all being the Colosseum. On the Colosseum's upper galleries are mosaics of dancers and actors. Music and dance were beloved forms of entertainment in Roman theatre. Although no written ancient music has survived in legible form, we can still use our imaginations to hear the sounds created by harpists, flautists, and tambourine players.
Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, appreciated not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics seem to have developed as a common art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Swiss collection, acquired in the 1990s from M. Farid Ziadeh
Condition: Old chips and fissures to some tesserae with some losses as shown, but the imagery is still quite vivid. Tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix with metal framing. Suspension holes on the verso.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#146421
Perhaps these are Bacchic ceremonial dancers. Perhaps they are theatrical performers. The Romans are known for developing entertainment ampitheatres built of stone and establishing a vibrant theatre tradition - the most famous ampitheatre of them all being the Colosseum. On the Colosseum's upper galleries are mosaics of dancers and actors. Music and dance were beloved forms of entertainment in Roman theatre. Although no written ancient music has survived in legible form, we can still use our imaginations to hear the sounds created by harpists, flautists, and tambourine players.
Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Roman world, appreciated not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics seem to have developed as a common art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Swiss collection, acquired in the 1990s from M. Farid Ziadeh
Condition: Old chips and fissures to some tesserae with some losses as shown, but the imagery is still quite vivid. Tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix with metal framing. Suspension holes on the verso.
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#146421
Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities Asian Fine Art
Sale Date(s)
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Boulder
Colorado
80027
United States
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Important Information
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional art from around the world - Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern; Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, India; Fine Art from the 17th century to present.
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Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale." 1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. 2. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise. 3. HIGH and LOW ESTIMATES are provided for each lot for reference only. The actual selling / hammer price may be higher or lower based on bidder demand. All lots will sell to the highest bidder without hidden / confidential reserves. 4. No lots will be released / shipped until payment has been made in full. 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After Artemis Gallery is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented. If Artemis Gallery concludes that the assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned. In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. 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Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado. 13. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction.
