Hellenistic Beige Terracotta Head of a Woman

£ 350.00

A finely rendered Greek, Hellenistic, terracotta head of a female figure, mounted on a custom-made stand. The figure’s head is delicately inclined to the right and adorned with an intricate chignon hairstyle, with a few locks tied in a knot at the top, while the rest of the hair is secured at the back in a low bun. Much attention has been paid to the elegant facial features, with almond-shaped eyes and rosebud mouth. The piece would have once been part of a larger statue or composition depicting a goddess or a female personification. Although it is impossible for us to discern the true identity of the figure, the distinct hairstyle might point to it being Venus.

Dimensions of the piece without the stand: H 5.5 cm x W 3.4

Date: Circa 4th-1st century BC
Provenance: Madame Suzanne Gozlan collection, then by descent.
Condition: Fine condition. Some damage to the tip of the nose and the intricate hairstyle.

SOLD

Terracotta figurines are the most common sculpture type in Greek art. Often fairly crude in their rendering, they were clearly designed for use across all social strata, and provide insight into the everyday lives of Greeks. As a result of their popularity, they were often used for votive purposes.

To find out more about votive offerings, please read our relevant blog post: Ancient Greek Votive Offerings in Antiquity: Gifts to the Gods

Weight 69.1 g
Dimensions W 3.5 x H 8 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Reference: For similar: The British Museum, London, item 1856,0902.36

You may also like…