Greek, South Italy / Magna Graecia, ca. 3rd century BCE. An evocative limestone relief frieze of Triton, here posed dynamically, swimming in the right of the frieze. He has a human male upper torso and a very long fish body with an upturned tail. Riding atop him is a Nereid, wrapped in a chiton, with her right arm raised and holding a long sail of cloth above. The overall sculpture suggests great movement, with flowing details like the cloth mirroring the shape of a turbulent sea. Triton and Nereid scenes were common on Roman funerary art, especially those from sarcophagi from the city of Rome. For example, the Getty Museum has a sarcophagi fragment with a very similar scene (7I.AA.26I). Size: 13.45" W x 10.5" H (34.2 cm x 26.7 cm)

Christie's sold a sacrophagus fragment with very similar iconography but with less wear in 2012 for $47,500 USD: https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/Lot/a-roman-marble-sarcophagus-fragment-circa-second-5567383-details.aspx

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#136186

Some weathering, wear, and losses on surface, mainly to higher profile areas. Motifs are still clear in most places, with Triton himself well preserved.