STATUE Roman PALMYRA Syria BYZANTINE Christian BONE Art ANCIENT Head Bust Face PORTRAIT PALMIRA Queen ZENOBIA Start Price USD 3,500.00 Current Price USD 3,500.00 Time Left 13 days 11 hours 14 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, September 18, 2008 End Time Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Location Read complete AD and TERMS OF SALE - 89107zip See more about 'STATUE Roman PALMYRA Syria BYZANTINE Christian BONE Art' Description Apologies for missing photos, but my original host cancelled ALL photo services .. so I have had to try out new services; and it is going more slowly than I am comfortable with .. never realized how efficient my old service was, until now ;-)) SPECIAL NOTE for U.K. / Great Britain / Blighty and Australian Buyers  .... I cannot include you in my list of countries, due to eB's rules re PPal .... however, you are welcome to contact me with any questions you may have. Also refer to my International TOS Note to International Buyers Due to eBay's new policies I have had to make adjustments to my international selling practices.Please read the Terms-of-Sale, following the description, that apply to international transactionsInternational buyers are welcome to email me with any questions. NOTE: S/H/DC, for this item, by USPS priority mail, to USA postal Territories, is FREE Faster shipping by  Express mail -- and ALL INTERNATIONAL shipping -- will incur a charge ....  Please ASQInsurance is additional & required regardless of any eBay preprogrammed inserts A fine 'PORTRAIT' HEAD / BUST  Carved in high relief from BONE - Ivory   (LATE ?)  ROMAN  or possibly BYZANTINE Probably from PALMYRA area, SYRIA circa 200 AD > 650 AD +/-    Excavation site unknown.  When I acquired this piece I was told it was Byzantine,  but Roman art shares many of the same features. Here is information I received from a member of an internet group of collectors / historians / dealers interested in AncientArtifacts, who viewed pictures of this item .......... "I am an archaelogist and historian, specialist in Ancient Near East. I will give you an opinion about this piece. Its a tardo-Roman item in style but can be also from Palmira (Syria), In fact, during the Bizantine Period, this kind of work was minutely done. It is a very good item. Good Luck and best regards, Claudio" Portraits (images) carved in high relief from a solid slab of material are typical of artifacts found / excavated at Ancient Palmyra [and other parts of Syria] which, at one point in its history was conquered and governed by Rome; becoming part of Rome's important, but often troublesome, Eastern Provinces of the expanding Roman Empire ......  I, myself, visited Palmyra in 1961; but was limited for time (flew in from Damascus on one of those iconic DC-3s after driving to Damacus from Beirut). The emphasis, at that time, in the small on-site museum-cum-workrooms (workrooms-cum-museum is perhaps more accurate) was, understandably, the display of artifacts related to Queen Zenobia. Unfortunately, they had minimal literature re discoveries available :-((. Brief history of Palmyra (.c UNESCO) covering the period when this relief figure was, probably, produced: * 1stC B.C.: The city is under Roman tutelage. * Around 129: The Emperor Hadrian makes Palmyra a "free city". * 2ndC: Palmyra's golden age - trading links stretch as far as India & China in the east, & to Italy in the west. * Mid-3rdC: The situation of the Roman empire deteriorates; so Palmyra has some independence under Odainat.* 268 AD: On the death of Odainat, his son and heir, Wahballat, is too young to govern; so Wahballat's mother, Zenobia, exercises power with the title of most illustrious queen. She invades Egypt. * 272 AD: Roman troops led by Aurelian enter Syria. Zenobia defends the Syrian capital The queen breaks with Rome & proclaims herself "Augusta". In August, Palmyra capitulates. Aurelian establishes a garrison there & leaves the city. * Spring 273: Fresh outbreak of revolt at Palmyra. The garrison is massacred. Aurelian returns in haste and sacks the city. Zenobia and her son are taken to Rome as captives. Palmyra never recovers from this defeat. * Late 3rdC: Diocletian makes Palmyra part of the eastern times, the network of routes and military posts protecting the empire against the Persians. * Around 400AD, during the reign of Arcadius, Palmyra recovers some of its importance. * 6thC AD:The Ghassanid Arab dynasty, allied to the Byzantines, dominates the Syrian desert. Emperor Justinian takes a keen interest in Palmyra, renovates it, surrounds it with fortifications, provides it with water, & instals a garrison. " Here is an excerpt from a UNESCO article re Palmyrene sculptures .......... "The finest specimens of Palmyrene sculpture were produced during the first three centuries of the Christian era, at a time when the pax romana encouraged long-distance trade.  A salient feature of this sculpture is that each figure is presented frontally and as an individual. This concern for individuality is particularly noticeable in the funerary statues, in which Palmyrene sculptors gave their own twist to classical Roman portraiture .... Palmyrene sculpture takes this stylistic evolution to its highest point. In the hypogea, underground burial vaults known as "houses of eternity" are a pleiad of faces carved in rock. On each tomb is a stele depicting the deceased full-length or as a bust. In accordance with the convention of frontality, the figures face out to us, almost always in high or low relief (sculpture in the round is very rare in Palmyrene art). Veils and curls of hair frame oval faces." Consider too: -- the use of ivory during the Byzantine period is well documented .. also the use of bone.  However, whether this was due to a shortage of ivory, or was for the purpose of creating 'affordable' items for the non-affluent, is not well documented.  I could make elaborate claims -- as some other sellers of antiquities (?) on eBay do -- that this figure represents a Saint, Disciple, (Christ, Jesus himself ?), Justinian, Pope, Emperor, a Roman Caesar or a famous Soldier or Senator, ???; but, the truth is, I do not know.  I can, however, say it is a fine and beautiful rare original authentic carving of 'a male personage'. VFine carving / sculpting.  Nice age-patina. This head became separated (broken off) from the lower portion of the original carving a long time ago - it is not a recent break.  There is something missing from the top of the head (see ------ dot); OR,  it was part of a larger sculture, and was broken off at that join.  Curled hair, which falls over the forehead, and beard.  The eyes are well defined, and it is possible they may have originally had a gem or a piece of glass for the iris.  There is 'open' bone at the top. There appears to be a narrow plain 'pillar' or 'panel', part of the carving on the back, and appears to be broken off, altho the surface of the bone here does not show exposed marrow  -- see the pix where I have marked with a 'line' ___________ fyi.  Surface bone material is missing in some areas, more so on the back.  There is a flake chip off the nose, and a more superficial one on the hair at front near center, which are more recent +/- (at time of excavation??). The usual surface wear for a hard to find piece of this age; but all in all very minor.  There is a small hole drilled in the back of the head -- no doubt in preparation for 'mounting' on a display stand.   I am selling AS ACQUIRED -- I have done NO CLEANING, NO RESTORATION Measurements (approx): Height:  4-3/8" (inches) .......... 11   cm widest: 3-5/8" (inches) ............. 9.3cm head width: 1-3/4" (inchs) ........ 4.5cm deepest: 1-1/2" (inches) .......... 3.5cm Please view all the pictures:   See additional pix -- click here >> .                     Provenance: My personal collection  -- acquired in Lebanon in the early 1960s Pieces from my collection (some shown below) have sold to collectors, dealers, International diplomats, university personnel, etc.   When I first acquired many of these artifacts, it was my intention to revisit the countries and do my own additional research re site-origin and age [based on local geological soil /clay / stone],  coupled with respective archeological documentation. Just my personal curiosity factor; PLUS any excuse to travel. Like many 'best laid plans', it was not to be. SO, I encourage anyone considering the purchase of this figure, or any other antiquity I am selling, to do your own research before bidding. There are many specialty sites on the web which show collections of authentic antiquities (along with info re fakes/reproductions), and often include discussion groups and forums to ask questions. BUYER WILL RECEIVE A PHOTOCOPY OF ALL THE U.S. CUSTOMS CLEARANCE FORMS .... I was given the 'carbon copy';  so the buyer will get a photocopy of the carbon copy (both sides).  Please NOTE: This does NOT include a list of each specific item.  I did preprepare an itemized list which I submitted to customs. However, at this PIT, I do not remember whether the list (or copy) was not returned to me; or, returned, and lost in burglaries.  You will receive a general declaration of the number of boxes / packages I was bringing into U.S.; which includes date, airline, port of exit and entry, etc. A FINE RARE BONE FIGURE TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION  Please check out my other items!    Be sure to add me to your favorites list!                                                 This bone figure is guaranteed to be an authentic antiquity within the limits discussed in this listing.   Purchase price  will be refunded ONLY if not authentic.   Buyer must give seller advance notice of intent to return;  and the item must be insured and return-mail-dated to seller within 30 days of delivery,  in exact same condition as sold (print the ad), including all original packing;  and accompanied by a written / signed letter-of-evidence provided on official letterhead by a verifiable licenced expert in this specific field of antiquities .... Refund will be issued only after seller is in receipt of returned item .... NOTE: In re International addresses shipping refunds will be limited to USA rate. If the closing date or time for this auction does not fit in with your personal schedule, may I suggest you consider placing a 'proxy' bid to secure winning this item. No one (not even the seller) can see your top bid. To read more about eBay's proxy bidding features and benefits CLICK HERE - http://pages.ebay.com/help/buy/proxy-bidding.html TERMS OF SALE  --  International listed separately below PLEASE REVIEW the ITEM DESCRIPTION and TERMS and ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE BIDDING -- I will answer within 24 hrs.  I email the winning bidder at EOA with ALL ship/pay options.  Contact within 3 days is appreciated. Payment due/received within 10 days. Items will be combined to save on S/H if applicable .   PAYMENT by money order (postal preferred) ~ cashiers chk ~ pers chk ~ USDpaperLegalTender. Cheques, and some money orders, have a hold of 10 bank bus. days +/-. Other forms of payment, such as e-Chks and bank transfers, may be accepted; but only with pre-bid-approval and at the sole discretion of the seller.  ASK.   NO PayPal.      SHIPPING after payment clears,   1-2 days a wk depending on my schedule.    FEEDBACK,  when posted by buyer on satisfactory receipt of item, links to an auto-responder which then posts your feedback to complete the transaction.   INTERNATIONAL TERMS  --  also read the Terms of Sale (above) Shipping costs will vary based on country of destination -- ASK.  I sell to Canada, UK/Gr Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand, HK, Japan.    However, I will ship to any country under spec. conditions.  Ask BEFORE bidding.    Payment in USD only - Int'l postal money orders ~ m.o. or chqs written on a US bank ~ USDpaperLegalTender ~  NO International PayPal. Some types of Int'l payments may incur an added bank service charge.  ASK. Buyer is responsible for (1) providing clear, complete and accurate address information including any special instructions;  (2) for being in compliance with all destination customs/import regulations;  (3) for paying any fees/duties/taxes/tariffs incurred;  (4) for self-insurance against loss/damage, FOB, when opting out of insured or registered guaranteed USPS mail services.By bidding, you acknowledge that delivery time for items can vary based on country of destination, shipping selected, customs, & all other circumstances outside the control of the seller once the package is in the hands of the postal services. ~~~Thanks for viewing this auction ~~~ NOTE: If you are not receiving my emails, or think you are experiencing "a failure to communicate" in re an auction, check your spam folders.   It may be an ISP spam auto-filter, or your security settings may be too high.   Also, there has been an increase in 'glitches' of eBay's own programmes.    Place a Bid!