AN ANCIENT LIMESTONE RELIEF FUNERARY PORTRAIT SCULPTURE OF A WOMAN, PALMYRENE, SYRIAN, MID 2ND/3RD CENTURY AD, in medium to high relief, resembling the ancient portraits of Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, the figure with her hair bound in a turban of twisted cloth and fronted by a broad diadem ornamented with repeating fern, square floret and bead motif, topped by a draping mantel, above her wavy hair brushed upward, she wears earrings resembling the form of the Egyptian Eye of Horus, above a long neck, her peplos drapes in a "V" at her breast, and graduated bead necklace, her tunic is pinned by a circular raised boss form pendant, her hands clutch her mantel, suggesting her modestly and domesticity, and she is flanked in the upper right background by three partially obscured lines of chiseled Palmyrene writing, likely once identifying the sitter. Height: 21 1/2" Width: 15" Depth: 8"

Provenanace: Purchased at auction circa 1962, New York.

Darkened tone, spots, smudges, red fiber residue within crevices, the proper left arm and hand and some lower areas of the proper right arm are now lacking, one earring now lacking, there are various scratches, mild damages and losses throughout, overall in good condition, wear commensurate with age.

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