Lot 49D
Northern Italy, Etruria, ca. 5th to 3rd century BCE. A fine, mold-made terracotta votive depicting the head of a bearded male wearing a veil. Scholars have proposed that this type may have represented a priest of god. Note the incredibly realistic visage comprised of open, thickly-lidded, almond-shaped eyes, an aquiline nose, apple cheeks, naturalistic ears, slightly parted lips, a full mustache and beard. The bold enlivened eyes and wavy coiffure are hallmarks of the Etruscan style. The unarticulated back side rises to form the veil crowning his head. Votive heads were deposited in sanctuaries and temples as offerings in exchange for divine favor. Collections of such offerings were later buried together within the borders of the sacred precinct. Some of the finer examples, such as this one, exhibit meticulous hand-worked detailing, while many were simply mold-made. Size: 12.625" H (32.1 cm); 16.5" H (41.9 cm) on included custom stand.
See a similar male votive head at the Getty Museum (object number 75.AD.99) - http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/7268/unknown-maker-male-votive-head-etruscan-450-400-bc/
The Getty curatorial team note, "Heads and busts were the most common type of votive sculpture, and were dedicated in sanctuaries to petition or thank the gods. Votive offerings became especially prolific during times of conflict. The bearded male type, which may represent a priest of a god, is attested at the site of Cerveteri in southern Etruria."
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: ex-Sotheby's New York, Antiquities, June 23, 1989, Lot 162
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#141809
The Villanovans inhabited Italy during the early Iron Age, and much of what we know of them comes from excavations of cemeteries (the first at Villanova near Bologna in northern Italy) where they cremated the dead and buried them in pottery urns in a very distinctive, double-cone shape. In the 8th century, Greek colonists arrived in the region, and began to influence Villanovan ceramics and their forms, as with this jar.
Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#144225
- Condition: Repaired from 3 to 5 large pieces. Losses to peripheries, abrasions to forehead, coiffure, nose and other high-pointed areas. Scattered mineral deposits across the surface.
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