Description:

Greece, Hellenistic period, ca. late 4th to 2nd century BCE. A charming head, neck, and partial chest of a "grotesque" figure, with a bald head, deeply furrowed brow, giant ears and nose, small eyes, and a mouth in a deep grimace. Small tufts of hair are depicted at the temples. Grotesque depictions from the Hellenistic period are believed to relate to the tradition of New Comedy - the Greek form of situational comedy and comedy of manners, most notably written by Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus. A particular stock character from the New Comedy is Parasite, who according to the Oxford Classical Dictionary, plays this role: "Parasites attach themselves to their social superiors for their own advantage, above all for free meals; in return they flatter or entertain their patron, run errands, and suffer much ill-treatment." We know that they are often depicted as bald, middle-aged, and beardless, usually with a large nose and knitted brow - so this head likely represents this stock character. Size: 3.2" W x 4" H (8.1 cm x 10.2 cm); 6.55" H (16.6 cm) on included custom stand.

See a similar, but more crude, example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252978

Provenance: private East Coast, 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.

#146207

  • Condition: This is a fragment from a larger sculpture, lost below the shoulders. A small area of the neck has been repaired; otherwise it is in very nice condition, with well preserved details and light deposits on the surface.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

May 22, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000