Roman, Holy Land, Eastern Empire, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A finely preserved fragment of a hand-built terracotta lion head perhaps meant as a cult statue or part of an architectural element. The fine feline presents a prominent snout with flared nostrils surrounded by incised whiskers, sensitive eyes framed within peaked brows, layered wrinkles across the brow, and billowing tufts of fur draped from the cheeks. The exterior surfaces are covered with faint beige pigment that was perhaps further adorned with vibrant pigment when first sculpted. Size: 5.5" L x 3.75" W x 3.8" H (14 cm x 9.5 cm x 9.7 cm); 6.9" H (17.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Daryl Gruber Kulok collection; Daryl Gruber Kulok (1960-2019) had homes in New York city and Connecticut and was fascinated with archaeology of the holy land. In America, she was on the philanthropic board of the Lila Gruber Research Foundation. Later in her life, she spent a good deal of time in Jerusalem where she was on the board of the American Friends of the Bible Lands, and was a serious collector of ancient art and artifacts. She was a student of biblical archaeology, and dedicated to supporting causes related to Israel. She was a major benefactor the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem, an institution "where people of all faiths are welcome to learn and understand our shared history." She was the key contributor to "Three Faces of Monotheism," a major exhibition there in 2007 which explored shared themes between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many of the pieces she donated are part of the Bible Lands Museum permanent collection.
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#159257
Condition
This is a fragment of a larger composition as shown. Chips and abrasions to facial features and peripheries, with light encrustations within some recessed areas, and minor fading to areas of pigmentation. Nice earthen deposits and great preservation to eye and snout details.