Ca. 200 BC - 100 AD. A hand-carved alabaster head of a man delineated in high relief, perhaps from a funerary stele, presenting a quixotic visage comprised of gazing, wide-open eyes, an arched browline, a nose, and closed lips that suggest a subtle, endearing overbite. The Qatabanian culture was a major center of trade and commerce in the ancient world, and alabaster face steles were found throughout their region. These steles are a testament to the sophistication and creativity of Qatabanian civilization. For a similar see The British Museum, Registration number 1985,0223.34.Size: L:160mm / W:150mm ; 3.81kgProvenance: Property of a London Islamic art specialist collector; previously in a collection formed since the 1980s.