Fine Cypriot Marble Bust of Male Youth

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Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

Aug 13, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-08-13 10:00:00 2020-08-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Ethnographic & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-5415
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Cyprus, ca. 5th century BCE. A hand-carved marble bust of a male youth with a solemn visage comprised of heavy-lidded, almond-shaped eyes, an arched browline, an aquiline nose, closed lips, full cheeks, naturalistic ears, and a rounded chin. His coiffure is most magnificent - parted at the center with incised locks that come together as plaited braids and fall behind neck past his shoulders. This piece may have been a section from a male youth recalling Greek kouroi. Although scholars have not been able to identity these figures, some have proposed that they are young men of high rank in service to a deity. The ancients placed figural statues of votaries in temples as acts of supplication to deities. Marble statues were quite rare for the Cypriots, as Cyprus does not have a local source of marble. Only the wealthiest individuals could afford to have works carved from marble that would have been quarried on the Greek islands. Size: 4.625" W x 4.25" H (11.7 cm x 10.8 cm); 8" H (20.3 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Greek control over the island during most of that time period - as well as a less overt but still important Greek influence on eastern Mediterranean culture - meant that Cypriot sculptors often imitated Greek statuary, and the Greek veneration of male youths was an artistic constant. This piece was created when most Cypriot sculptures were made from limestone. Only the wealthiest elite patrons could afford to have marble quarried from Greece. In time, the availability of marble and bronze statuary from other areas of Greek cultural influence, coupled with the ease with which artists could travel around the area during the relative peace of the Hellenistic era, brought the native tradition of limestone sculpture to an end.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Dr. Sid Port collection, California, USA, acquired in the 1970s
  
  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.
  
  #146823

  Condition

  Old nicks/chips to peripheries below shoulders, around headband/coiffure, and to ears and other high-pointed areas. Scattered mineral deposits as shown.
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