A remarkable ancient Greek sculpture is set to be featured at the upcoming TEFAF art fair, commemorating the life of a young woman who passed away. Offered by the London-based gallery David Aaron, the piece known as Stele of Medeia, hails from the Attic region and dates back to 375-350 BCE. Priced at approximately £450,000 (around $615,000), it has already attracted notable interest from a prominent museum in the United States.
Salomon Aaron, the gallery director, remarked, "This stele is a beautifully crafted piece with much of its original pigment still intact." The artwork depicts a woman in profile, raising her right hand to her shoulder, with her gaze directed downwards. An inscription identifies her, while her attire--a traditional chiton--highlights her status as a Parthenoi, or unmarried young woman. This unique representation is particularly rare, as research indicates that only four percent of Attic funerary reliefs focus on Parthenoi.
The sculpture has a rich provenance, initially appearing in the collection of Athenian art dealer Theodoros A. Zoumpoulakis before being sold in 1923 to Joseph Brummer, a renowned Hungarian gallerist. Following Brummer's passing, many pieces from his collection were acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the stele eventually passed to his brother Ernest and then to his wife, Ella Laszlo Baché Brummer, who established a successful cosmetics brand.
Aaron emphasizes the importance of well-documented provenance for antiquities, stating that items with verified histories are more likely to achieve higher prices in the auction market. "We dedicate significant time to researching provenance, which adds value to our offerings," he explained.
Founded in 1910 in Iran, David Aaron Gallery has evolved over the years, relocating to London in 1980. The gallery specializes in classical art from various cultures, including Greek, Roman, and Egyptian works. At TEFAF, the gallery will also showcase an Egyptian limestone Baboon (664-343 BCE) and a Roman Torso of a Youth (1st-2nd century CE), both with historical significance.