Inscribed statue of standing male figure

Object Details

• Description

  Sculpture in the round of a standing human figure, of translucent alabaster. Eyes modeled with pupils; eyebrows are carved and recessed to receive inlays. Ears lie flat against side of head, with detailed interior. Mouth modeled with moustache and beard composed of regular rows of perforations. Nearly Roman nose, straight and modelled. Both arms of figure bent at right angles at elbows. Figure wears a long robe which extends below knee. Figure, although male, has two breast-like protrusions on the chest. Hips and buttocks schematically modelled on back side of sculpture. Legs and feet are schematically carved, lacking detail except for incised grooves on feet defining five toes. Figure stands on rectangular platform carved out of the same stone, with an inscription on front of face of block. Remaining faces of block are smoothed, yet uninscribed.

• Inscriptions

  Ancient South Arabian (Himyaridic or Sayhadic) inscription on front of face of block.

• Label

  This statue belongs to a large group of carved standing figures that served as funerary monuments in the ancient kingdom of Qataban (ca. 500-100 B.C.E.), located in what is now Yemen at the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula. The inscription on the front of the statue base, written in ancient South Arabian script, gives the personal name of the figure depicted. Funerary monuments like this one commemorated the deceased, whose name was often carved at the base of the statue.

  Qatab¯an was one of several kingdoms that prospered in antiquity as they gained control over the caravan trade routes across the Arabian peninsula. Frankincense and myrrh, prized products of the southern peninsula, were transported along the trade routes to Mediterranean markets.

• Provenance

  To 1965

  André Emmerich Gallery, New York. [1]

  From 1965 to 1966

  Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1899-1981), purchased from André Emmerich Gallery, New York. [2]

  From 1966 to 1986

  Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn. [3]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, transferred from Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See document from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, object file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See note 1. See also object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Ancient Yemen: Incense, Art, and Trade (September 3, 2022 - ongoing)

  A Glimpse of Ancient Yemen (August 18, 2018 to March 30, 2021)

  Facing East: Portraits from Asia (July 1 to September 4, 2006)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1899-1981)

  André Emmerich Gallery

  Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

• Origin

  Yemen

• Credit Line

  Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn to the Smithsonian Institution

• Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 22b: Ancient Yemen: Incense, Art, and Trade

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Hirshhorn, Joseph H., André Emmerich Gallery

• Topic

  Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Men, Kingdom of Qataban (ca. 500 BCE - 100 CE), Stone, Yemen

• Culture

  Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Sculpture

• On View

  Yes