Stele with Bull's Head

Object Details

• Description

  Stele decorated with the head of a bull, highly modelled and incised, centered horizontally in smoothed background field. The bull is simply and inexpertly rendered, with two horns separated from top corners of hexagonal-shaped head by two modelled ridges incised with regular cross-striations. Two triangular ears emerge against field on either side at eye level of bull's head. Interior of ears slightly carved. Triangular forelock points down from rounded top of head to snout between the horns. Chiselled fur markings indicate forelock. Eyes defined at two side corners of hexagonal head by three semicircular incisions. Rounded snout points downward from bottom of hexagonal head. Nose wrinkles represented as two zig-zag lines on front surface of snout. Rectangular ledge bearing inscription in ancient South Arabian (Himyaridic or Sayhadic) script on front face protrudes from bottom of field.

  The sculpture is good condition. Front surface is slightly scratched and incision on eyes and snout is worn. Edges of field are straight, but slightly abraded. Top left corner fragmented and missing. Back surface is flat, yet unfinished and bears signs of chisel marks.

• Provenance

  To 1972

  Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1899-1981). [1]

  From 1972 to 1986

  Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn. [2]

  From 1986

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, transferred from Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC [3]

  Notes:

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

  [2] See note 1.

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

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Object of the Bi-Month (April 25, 1991 to March 21, 2007)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Joseph H. Hirshhorn (1899-1981)

  Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

• Origin

  Yemen

• Credit Line

  Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn to the Smithsonian Institution

• Type

  Sculpture

• 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.

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Middle Easterners

• Object Type

  Sculpture