Classical World, Northern Italy, Etruria, ca. 3rd century BCE. A beautiful mold-made terracotta votive with details reworked via a modeling tool in the form of a youthful female's head which faces slightly to the left. Her beautiful visage composed of almond-shaped eyes under heavy brows, a gracefully arched brow line, a delicate nose, full lips, finely-formed cheeks, and a slender neckline, all framed by a coiffure of wavy hair beneath a corona. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 6.25" W x 10.25" H (15.9 cm x 26 cm); 11.875" H (30.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Votive heads like this example were placed in temples as forms of requests or offerings to thank the gods. Sculptors used molds and stamps to create images of women and men. On particularly fine examples, such as this head, the artist refined features and details of the face and hair with a pointed tool prior to firing in the kiln. The bold, enlivened eyes and wavy coiffure are hallmarks of the Etruscan style.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Neil Phillips collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 1970s
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#139380
Condition
Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, losses to neck line and areas of the corona, with fading to some finer details along the face, and some light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits and light mineral deposits throughout.