Large Greek Cycladic II Marble Head

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Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities Asian Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

May 22, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-05-22 10:00:00 2019-05-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities Asian Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-1-antiquities-asian-fine-art-4129
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional art from around the world - Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern; Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, India; Fine Art from the 17th century to present. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Greek, Early Spedos, Early Cycladic II, ca. 2600 to 2500 BCE. Finely carved from marble, this is the U-shaped head of a Spedos figure. The low relief nose is pronounced, and it is possible that other details originally may have been delineated with brightly colored pigments. The remains of a neck are still visible at the base. This head is most likely from the head of a female figure, typical of the sculpture of the Cyclades in the mid-2000s BCE. The name Spedos is derived from an Early Cycladic cemetery on the island of Naxos. This canonical type is characterized by an elongated slender body with folded arms, a lyre- or U-shaped head, and a deeply incised cleft between the legs. Size: 2.5" W x 4.05" H (6.4 cm x 10.3 cm); 5.8" H (14.7 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  See an example with the body included at the Getty Museum: http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/12938/unknown-maker-female-figure-of-the-early-spedos-type-cycladic-2700-2500-bc/. According to the curatorial team at the Getty, "The role and meaning of these figures in Cycladic culture is unknown. As the majority of figures are female, and are represented nude, with breasts and incised public triangles to indicate their gender, they may be linked with the idea of fertility and reproduction, which was often a focus of ancient Mediterranean religions. While these figures have been found almost exclusively in graves placed on their backs, it is not clear whether they were made specifically for burials. On some examples, the painted decoration has been refreshed, suggesting that the images were in use for a long period of time before being buried. Additionally, a few examples also come from sanctuaries, and would have served a ritual function. Since they could not stand, they may have been held upright in social or religious activities, such as processions."
  
  Provenance: private Connecticut, USA collection, acquired London 2012; ex-private Belgian collection 1990s; ex-N. Koutoulakis, Switzerland, 1960s, thence by descent
  
  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.
  
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  #146723

  Condition

  Head is a fragment from a larger statue.
• Shipping Info

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