Ancient Roman lead Head of a woman - 35 mm (No reserve price)

"Ancient Roman Lead Figurative Head with Female Bust

Culture / Period: Ancient Roman
Date / Period: 1st–2nd century AD
Material: Lead
Dimensions: 35 mm
Condition: Good condition, with age-related wear, surface oxidation and natural grey-brown patination. The facial features, hairstyle and upper body remain clearly recognisable. See photographs for details.

No shipping outside the European Union. Due to complex export regulations concerning cultural goods, this item cannot be shipped outside the EU. Please ensure you have a delivery address within the European Union before placing a bid.

Provenance information:

Object Registration ID: 1061

The current owner (S.N.J. S.) purchased the Roman lead figurative head from J.P. in Eijsden, the Netherlands.

The previous owner, J.P. from Eijsden (the Netherlands), stated that the object had been in his collection since the 1990s.

According to the previous owner, the object had previously been in a private collection in the Netherlands since the 1990s.

No further information concerning the earlier ownership history of the object was available from the previous owner.

Background Information:

Small figurative objects made from lead formed part of the diverse material culture of the Roman Empire during the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Lead was used for a wide variety of practical and decorative purposes, including small statuettes, votive objects, ornaments and fittings. Its relatively low melting point made it particularly suitable for casting detailed objects in reusable moulds.

This example represents a human head, apparently female, with carefully modelled facial features and a distinctive hairstyle. The eyes, nose, mouth and contours of the face remain recognisable, while the neck continues into a small upper-body section. The slightly inclined position of the head gives the figure a naturalistic appearance, reflecting the Roman interest in representing the human form.

Figurative representations of women were widespread in Roman art and craftsmanship. Female heads and busts appeared on sculptures, household ornaments, decorative fittings and objects associated with personal or religious practices. Such representations could depict ordinary individuals, idealised female figures or mythological and divine subjects, depending on their original context and intended function.

Roman craftsmen produced small lead figures by pouring molten metal into prepared moulds, allowing repeated production of recognisable forms. Additional details could be refined after casting. This manufacturing technique made figurative objects accessible beyond the expensive materials traditionally associated with larger bronze and marble sculptures.

During the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, particularly under the Flavian, Trajanic, Hadrianic and Antonine emperors, Roman artistic traditions spread throughout the provinces. Figurative objects influenced by Roman styles were produced and used across the Empire, including in settlements and military communities in present-day France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands."