Early Jewish Limestone Ossuary, ex-Bonhams, Art Loss

Ancient Near East, Roman Holy Land, Jewish culture, late Republic to early Imperial Period, ca. 1st century BCE to 1st century CE. A hand-carved limestone ossuary incised on one side with three large rosettes encircled within concentric rings, zigzagging striations along the top periphery, and a band of intersecting arcs along the bottom. The rectangular vessel rests upon a quartet of vestigial feet, has sloping walls that trace down to the deep interior well, and exhibits traces of original orange pigment on the frontal facade. While the frontal decorations imbue the vessel with a sense of whimsy, the unadorned back and lateral walls command quiet contemplation and respect for the deceased. Accompanying the ossuary body is roughly half of the lid that bears traces of red-orange pigment. Size: 8.125" L x 14.9" W x 7.25" H (20.6 cm x 37.8 cm x 18.4 cm)

Early followers of the Jewish religion practiced ossilegium - placing one's deceased remains inside a secondary burial box - for roughly two centuries prior to the Roman destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. In the first stage of burial, the body was placed into a pit or, in the case of more elite members of society, into a niche or bench in a tomb. One year later, family members would collect the remains of the deceased - once the soft tissue had sufficiently decomposed - and place their bones into an ossuary like this example. The ossuary was then placed into a niche in the family tomb next to the remains of their ancestors. This was an important event and religious act within the family as it was designed to ensure the purification of the deceased's soul.

A stylistically similar example, of a smaller size, hammered for $10,625 at Christie's, New York "Antiquities" auction (sale 2856, June 5, 2014, lot 112).

Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate, reference #S00073589.

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA, acquired in May 2013; ex-Bonhams, London, New Bond Street "Antiquities" auction (May 1, 2013, lot 59); ex-private collection of an Austrian diplomat, acquired between 1976 and 1981; accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate, reference #S00073589

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#153245
Condition Report: Small area of loss to lower body periphery on verso, half of lid, and portions of some feet as shown. Body has nicks and abrasions to upper periphery, walls, and vestigial feet, with light encrustations, fading to original pigmentation, softening to incised details on front, and some ashen remains within interior. Nice earthen deposits throughout and faint remains of original pigment on frontal exterior.