Sandstone Stele “Nez Grec” – Archaic South Arabian Style, 3rd‑1st c. BCE

The Muette model is a monumental stele carved from natural sandstone, part of a collection inspired by ancient funerary monuments of the Kingdom of Sheba (modern Yemen). This vertica...

This South Arabian sandstone stele is a decorative sculpture inspired by the pre-Islamic funerary pillars of ancient Yemen. Entirely hand-carved in natural, sand-toned stone, it refl...

Sculpture, stone stele representing an ancient divinity, 20th century. Sculpture of an ancient divinity, stone stele on a metal base, 20th century. H: 69.5cm, W: 32cm, D: 15cm

This sandstone stele, model Arcades, is a handcrafted decorative sculpture inspired by South Arabian art from ancient Yemen. Dating stylistically from the 3rd to 1st century BCE, it ...

China, a fine archaic human effigy hand-carved from a granular medium to dark gray volcanic stone with six (6) "V" sections carved front. Neolithic period, Hongshan culture...

The small dots apparent on the surface of this stone stele are indicative of an oolitic silica structure or oolites formed in what is known as "Oolitic chert." The same phenomenon can also be observed in the Tang Dynasty Limestone Stele at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. This formation occurs gradually over the course of thousands to several hundred thousand years within the soil or sea. Similar structures are commonly found in ancient fossils or arrowheads. Ancient peoples chose certain types of stones for tool-making, preferring materials that were easier to work with and could be sharpened effectively. This predilection is believed to be the reason why oolitic silica structures are frequently found in ancient arrowheads. The development of these oolitic silica structures is a very slow process involving the accumulation of siliceous layers around particulates. This phenomenon, where silica reacts with water to form layers around a nucleus, occurs under specific chemical and physical conditions. Typically, it takes thousands to hundreds of thousands of years for silica to gradually accumulate in layers through contact with moisture, a process that requires a precise harmony of many variables, including chemical conditions, temperature, pressure, pH, and biological activity. It is known that no other stele with such a silica structure has been identified to date, serving not only as evidence of its authenticity but also significantly enhancing the rarity of this piece. This stele appears to be a stone sculpture of an apsara, a celestial nymph from Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Despite its fragmentary state, the sculpture conveys grace and movement. The apsara is captured in a dynamic pose, perhaps once part of a larger tableau, playing a flute-like instrument. The black stand was made in Hong Kong at the time of the acquisition. Date : Northern Wei/Eastern Wei Dynasty(386~550) Size : 22cm (Height) x 16cm(diameter) Condition : Good (oolites dots on surface) Provenance : Acquired in late 1990s from Hongkong Reference : 1) Sotheby's New York 20 March 2018 - Jingyatang Treasures Of Chinese Buddhist...

A large ancient Timor stone ancestor carving from the Belu district of central Timor .

Vintage Hand Carved and Handcrafted Sandstone Primitive Decorative Design Stone Sculpture by Timor Island Design, the Sculpture Mounted on a Black Iron Stand Detail Dimensions: Top: ...