A miniature limestone pyramid, roughly the size of a large breadbox, that once crowned a private tomb at Saqqara. Carved around 1325 BCE, the Pyramidion of Ptahemwia was the finishing touch on a mud-brick pyramid.
Yaxchilán Lintel 25 is one of the most compelling works of Classic Maya art. Carved in limestone, it shows Queen Lady K’abal Xook (also called Lady Xoc) kneeling in a trance-like state after a bloodletting ritual.
Standing before us is the upper half of a once-towering limestone statue—a bearded man frozen in solemn dignity. Carved more than 2,400 years ago on the island of Cyprus.
Head, arms, and legs are gone, yet the fragment immediately reads as a faun—one of the wild, lustful woodland beings who followed Dionysus, god of wine.
A bearded votary figure stands still, wrapped in heavy folds of drapery, with almond-shaped eyes and a faint smile. His right arm is gone. The wreath on his head remains..
This intriguing monster, originating from the late 500s CE during the Northern Qi dynasty, served as a supportive element in Buddhist cave temples, blending grotesque ferocity with protective symbolism to ward off evil spirits.
Crafted in limestone with bright polychromy (multiple colors) and gilding, this enthroned virgin blends tenderness with deep theological meaning, making it a poignant example of late medieval devotional art.
What at first glance appears to be a simple fragment of a goat opens the door to questions about myth, movement, and meaning in early Greek art.
This small double-sided votive relief, also known as a sculptor's trial piece or model, is a finely carved limestone flake (ostracon) from ancient Egypt during the Ptolemaic dynasty (305–30 BCE).
In ancient Egypt, stelae ensured the deceased’s memory and sustenance in the afterlife through offerings of bread, beer, and meat. This one, dedicated to Pasherienimhotep is a well preserved gem.
Carved in the 200s CE, this limestone panel from Nagarjunakonda, India, frames Buddha as a flaming pillar with celestial figures as a veneration.
A painted limestone figure depicting Minnefer in a striding pose, colored with reddish-brown skin and a black wig.
