Glass bird and carved Phoenician squares
22 November 2018
Description

I have picked up this items in Baalbeck, northern Lebanon. The carved stone squares with different scenes (85 x 65 x 20mm) looked a bit to recently carved to me to be genuine, but I took them anyway (-:. The glass bird bottle (12cm) was puzzling to me in terms of its meaning and purpose. For both I'd be interested in a perspective on use and authenticity. I am interested to learn more about possible dating and origins/story and your opinion on the genuine character. I am aware that I will not be able to legally sell this item to a licensed dealer in e.g. Europe because it originates in Lebanon and has no certified provenance. Am also not planning to as it is not part of my personal and private collection. Still I would be interested to find out what the approximate value would be if provenance etc could be legally established.

Provenance

Purchased from small local dealers in Lebanon

Acquired from
Gallery/Dealer
For sale
No
Answered within about 5 hours
By Klaus
Nov 22, 16:51 UTC
Presumably not genuine

Thank you for submitting your item for appraisal. As you have already noticed the two plaques can best described as middle eastern Dremel culture objects, early 21st century. The bird shaped phiole would be of similar age and most likely produced by a neighbouring workshop. Philole are used to keep perfume or medicine etc. Forgers find ways to tell plausible stories, but the darkest lie is the half truth.

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