A CARVED WHITE MARBLE RELIEF WITH HORNED DEVILS
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE DUTCH COLLECTION
Possibly Egypt or Central Anatolia, 11th - 12th century

Of rectangular shape, the centre deeply carved with a central cusped arabesque cartouche with two palmettes, to the four corners horned gargoyles or devil faces, the outer frame with a continuous band of vegetal trellis, the back plain, 48.5cm x 30cm.

For an interesting comparison, please see a Seljuk white marble relief from the Konya District in Central Anatolia, dating to the 12th century, and sold at Christie's London, 7 October 2008, lot 33. A number of similar stone reliefs have been found at Kubadabad and other sites in the Konya region. They are usually characterised by a square layout, and worked in two planes with engraved lines delineating the contours. Their subjects tend to be human figures, mythical creatures and animals, possibly linking our horned devils to a similar centre of production (The Anatolian Civilisations, exhibition catalogue, vol. III, nos. D.151 and 152, p.81)