Head-Stela of a Smiling Woman

Description The portrait represents a woman with long hair. The incised lines on the neck are either the so-called rings of Venus--indicators of female beauty--or represent a collar or necklace. Portraits depicting smiling subjects are rare and originate from Marib or the Jawf region.

Conservation

Date	Description	Narrative
3/13/2008	Treatment	cleaned

Exhibitions

• Faces of Ancient Arabia: The Giraud and Carolyn Foster Collection of South Arabian Art. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2008.

Provenance Sale, Sotheby's, London, July 24, 1967, lot 105; Giraud and Carolyn Foster, Baltimore, July 24, 1967, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2007, by gift.

Credit Gift of Giraud and Carolyn Foster, 2007