Ancient Greek Beautiful terracotta female head

Female terracotta head, 3rd–1st centuries BCE.

Historical Period: Classical World, 3rd–1st centuries BCE. Ancient Greece

Object: votive terracotta of a young woman. The head sits on a slender slightly elongated neck, with chin raised a little above its neutral position, finely sharpened cheeks accompanied by a soft extension of the neck, a slight gesture of the lips changes the expression and perceived mystique. The naturalistic nose, hair combed into locks at the front that frame the face and gathered with a ribbon and bow at the top. Solid head, very well modeled, Greek Classical style, with beautiful facial details and light traces of the original pigments in the caldron color remaining on the face and hair.
Size: 81 mm x 43 mm. Weight: 84 g.

Conservation status: unrestored. Nose with a slight break at the tip and at the bow on the head. Small chips and scratches, wear in some fine details, inlays and sediment deposits on the surface and the inner cavity. The object stands in a vertical position, with a slight tilt to its left side due to material loss.

Votive heads stand out for their detail and craftsmanship, and despite their small size they represent deities, mythological figures or mortals. They were placed in temples as forms of petitions or offerings to thank the gods. Sculptors used molds and seals to create images of men and women. In particularly refined examples, like this head, the artist refined facial features and hair details with a pointed tool before firing in the kiln. The expressive face and the wavy hairstyle resemble some heads from the Etruscan period and later Roman.

Provenance: A. Gallery specializing in ancient art, Spain, 2012, former private collection of J. P. C., Norfolk, United Kingdom, 1970s. The certificate of authenticity from the gallery where the object was purchased accompanies the item.

Bibliography and references: Goddess Mother with headdress, Corinium Museum. Terracotta female head, 3rd–1st century BCE. Object Number: 10.210.130 Met Art NY. USA. Richard A. Higgins, Greek Terracottas, 1967. Jeammet, La Vie quotidienne en Grèce: des terres cuites pour la vie et l’au-delà, 2001. Susan Besques, Figurines et reliefs grecs en terre cuite, 1994.

Sale ONLY Europe (EU).
See details and dimensions in the description and attached images. Due to factors such as lighting conditions at the moment of photography, the color may vary slightly from the original. A copy of the authenticity certificates and a copy of the catalog if the object appears in it accompany the item(s).
Data and other information present are provided by the Gallery from which the objects were acquired. According to this information: the pieces in the catalog, unitary, collection or lot, are genuine, traded ethically and professionally, with Spanish and foreign specialists from the various admission committees of Antiquities fairs nationally and internationally.
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