Ancient Egypt, Greco–Roman Period Pottery Grotesque head
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€ 1
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 330 - € 400
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Grotesque head, Romano‑Egyptian pottery head from the 1st–2nd century AD, about 30 × 26 mm, in good condition, acquired in 2025 from a private collection with provenance from the United States, previously acquired 1970–2000, comes with Certificate of Authenticity and export licence.
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Description from the seller
ITEM: Grotesque head
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Romano-Egyptian
PERIOD: 1st - 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 30 mm x 26 mm (without stand)
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex American private collection, acquired between 1970 - 2000
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.
If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
The Romano-Egyptian grotesque head represents a fascinating intersection of Hellenistic artistic naturalism and Egyptian religious tradition. Emerging primarily during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, these small terracotta or bronze figurines departed from the idealized beauty of classical statuary to embrace hyper-realism and deformity. Characterized by exaggerated features—such as oversized ears, hooked noses, wrinkled brows, and asymmetrical expressions—these "grotesques" were not intended to be offensive but were instead deeply rooted in the diverse, multicultural urban centers like Alexandria.
Functionally, these heads often served an apotropaic purpose, meaning they were intended to ward off evil spirits or the "evil eye." In the ancient world, it was believed that the grotesque or the absurd could distract and repel malevolent forces. Many of these figures are associated with the cult of Bes, the dwarf god of the household and protector of mothers and children, who himself possessed a distorted, lion-like visage. By owning a grotesque head, an individual could harness the power of "aversion therapy" to protect their home or personal space from misfortune.
Beyond their protective qualities, these artifacts provide modern historians with a rare, unvarnished look at the medical realities and social fringes of the Roman Empire. Some scholars argue that these figures represent specific pathological conditions, such as goiters, facial paralysis, or skin diseases, rendered with startling anatomical accuracy. Whether they were used as satirical theater masks, votive offerings for healing, or simply as provocative ornaments, Romano-Egyptian grotesque heads challenge our perceptions of ancient beauty and reveal a society that found profound spiritual and artistic value in the unconventional.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Grotesque head
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Romano-Egyptian
PERIOD: 1st - 2nd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 30 mm x 26 mm (without stand)
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex American private collection, acquired between 1970 - 2000
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license.
If you bid outside the European Union and win the item, we will have to apply for an export licence for your country and shipping will take 3 to 5 weeks.
The Romano-Egyptian grotesque head represents a fascinating intersection of Hellenistic artistic naturalism and Egyptian religious tradition. Emerging primarily during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods, these small terracotta or bronze figurines departed from the idealized beauty of classical statuary to embrace hyper-realism and deformity. Characterized by exaggerated features—such as oversized ears, hooked noses, wrinkled brows, and asymmetrical expressions—these "grotesques" were not intended to be offensive but were instead deeply rooted in the diverse, multicultural urban centers like Alexandria.
Functionally, these heads often served an apotropaic purpose, meaning they were intended to ward off evil spirits or the "evil eye." In the ancient world, it was believed that the grotesque or the absurd could distract and repel malevolent forces. Many of these figures are associated with the cult of Bes, the dwarf god of the household and protector of mothers and children, who himself possessed a distorted, lion-like visage. By owning a grotesque head, an individual could harness the power of "aversion therapy" to protect their home or personal space from misfortune.
Beyond their protective qualities, these artifacts provide modern historians with a rare, unvarnished look at the medical realities and social fringes of the Roman Empire. Some scholars argue that these figures represent specific pathological conditions, such as goiters, facial paralysis, or skin diseases, rendered with startling anatomical accuracy. Whether they were used as satirical theater masks, votive offerings for healing, or simply as provocative ornaments, Romano-Egyptian grotesque heads challenge our perceptions of ancient beauty and reveal a society that found profound spiritual and artistic value in the unconventional.
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Egypt, Greco–Roman Period
Century/ Timeframe
1st - 2nd Century A.D
Name of object
Grotesque head
Acquired from
Private collection
Year acquired
2025
Material
Pottery
Country acquired from
France
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1970
Previous owner - country acquired from
United States
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Sold by
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
