A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the fabled city of Petra during the flowering of the Nabatean Empire. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself,  More »

A lamp such as this might have lit homes in the fabled city of Petra during the flowering of the Nabatean Empire. A metaphor of joy and prosperity, for hope, for life itself, lamps have illuminated the path of civilization for centuries. They have guided great thoughts through the night, stood vigil with lonely passions. In the presence of this simple object, we are in touch directly with a vanished world, with the people once warmed by its glow. Today it remains as an enduring symbol of man's desire to conquer the darkness. - (L.0260)   « Less

At the height of the Nabataean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As  More »

At the height of the Nabataean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple beauty, we are aware of the touch of other hands long ago. Who might have held it when it was new? Were the dreams and emotions that guided their lives so very different from our own? The vessel's graceful unadorned shape appeals as much to the contemporary eye as it did to the culture that created it. Such artifacts, ordinary enough in their own age, connect us in an intimate way with the world of the past. In its presence, we cross the bridge of time and set the imagination on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1711)   « Less

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 3300 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience-Limestone Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian faience beads dating from the Middle  More »

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 3300 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience-Limestone Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian faience beads dating from the Middle through New Kingdoms. Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. - (SB.1082)   « Less

At the height of the Nabatean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As we  More »

At the height of the Nabatean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple beauty, we are aware of the touch of other hands long ago. Who might have held it when it was new? Were the dreams and emotions that guided their lives so very different from our own? The vessel's graceful unadorned shape appeals as much to the contemporary eye as it did to the culture that created it. Such artifacts, ordinary enough in their own age, connect us in an intimate way with the world of the past. In its presence, we cross the bridge of time and set the imagination on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1712)   « Less

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1900 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian faience beads dating from the Middle through  More »

Origin: Egypt (Sinai) Circa: 1900 BC to 1300 BC Collection: Egyptian Medium: Faience Necklace composed of genuine Egyptian faience beads dating from the Middle through New Kingdoms. Most Ancient Egyptian beads were made of faience, a glass-composite glaze which was introduced as early as the Pre-Dynastic period. According to Egyptologists, such beads were made on an axis, probably of thread, which would burn up during firing, leaving a hole. Disc, ring and tubular beads were made by coating the axis with the unfired body-paste, rolling the cylinder to an even diameter on a flat surface, and then scoring it with a knife into sections of the desired length. Other shapes, such as ball beads, were rolled between the hands and perforated while still wet with a stiff point such as a wire needle. The beads were then dried, coated with glaze (if the glaze had not already been mixed with the paste), and fired. The firing process often gave the beads a beautiful translucent quality. The majority of faience beads are blue or green in color, but black, red, yellow and white ones were also produced, especially in the New Egyptian Kingdom. - (SB.1085)   « Less

Height-29 1/8", Width-20", Stained glass with soothing shades of green and blue.

Height-29 1/8", Width-20", Stained glass with soothing shades of green and blue.   « Less

At the height of the Nabataean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As  More »

At the height of the Nabataean Empire, this elegant bowl might have held an offering of food or wine. Perhaps it was left as a gift at the shrine of some powerful deity. As we hold it in our hands today, admiring its simple beauty, we are aware of the touch of other hands long ago. Who might have held it when it was new? Were the dreams and emotions that guided their lives so very different from our own? The vessel's graceful unadorned shape appeals as much to the contemporary eye as it did to the culture that created it. Such artifacts, ordinary enough in their own age, connect us in an intimate way with the world of the past. In its presence, we cross the bridge of time and set the imagination on a journey of discovery. - (PF.1724)   « Less

Origin: Petra, Jordan Circa: 100 BC to 100 AD Dimensions: 3.90" (9.9cm) high x 4.2" (10.7cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Nabatean Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Petra, Jordan Circa: 100 BC to 100 AD Dimensions: 3.90" (9.9cm) high x 4.2" (10.7cm) wide Collection: Biblical Antiquities Style: Nabatean Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object. Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool  More »

Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object. Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool while it was being spun into thread. Common to most every civilization, these charming weights were often buried as a grave gift with their owners. Though their shape tended to remain uniform, spindle whorls can be found in a variety of materials including stone, bronze, gold, glass and bone. In the classical world, even the most respectable women carded and spun wool; it was considered the duty of a good matron. Spindle whorls are still used today in parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. We can imagine this whorl dancing through the fingers of a beautiful woman as she laughed and gossiped with her friends. From such an artifact, handled on a daily basis by an ancient life, we are placed in intimate touch with a vanished age. - (GF.0295)   « Less

Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object.Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool  More »

Throughout history, in almost every ancient culture, the spindle whorl has been a common domestic object.Elegant and abstract, these little objects were used to weight wool while it was being spun into thread. Common to most civilization, these weights were often buried as a grave gift with their owners. Though their shape tended to remain uniform, spindle whorls can be found in a variety of materials including stone, bronze, gold, glass and bone. In the classical world, even the most respectable women carded and spun wool; it was considered the duty of a good matron. Spindle whorls are still used today in parts of Eastern Europe and the Middle East. - (GF.0296)   « Less