Ancient Greek, Magna Graecia Terracotta head - 10.5 cm

Female head in terracotta polos — Greater Greece, Southern Italy — Late 5th–early 4th century BC.

Orange-toned terracotta female head, with a face framed by wavy locks and topped by a tall polos-type headdress, partially preserved. The fullness of the cheeks, the outlined mouth, and the movement of the hair give this fragment an expressive sculptural presence.

The face stands out clearly from the background. The side locks follow its contour while the tall headdress extends the composition upward. The contrast between the orange reliefs and the light surface deposits emphasizes the modelling. The concave reverse reveals the structure of the preserved wall.

Artistic and historical context:

This composition invites a comparison with the female protomé figures of the Greek world. The term protomé denotes a partial representation consisting of the head and neck, sometimes extended by the upper torso. These representations could have a concave reverse and perforations allowing their suspension in houses or in sanctuaries.

The polos is a tall headdress present in Greek female iconography, particularly in representations of deities. Its volume gives the figure a solemn silhouette and constitutes an essential element of the composition. No preserved attributes enable naming a specific goddess here.

Protomés in terracotta served several functions in antiquity: offerings in sanctuaries, objects of domestic cult, protective or decorative representations, and funeral deposits. This context clarifies the family of objects to which the fragment is compared, without determining its individual use.

Specifications:

Material: orange terracotta, with light surface deposits.
Subject: female head adorned with a polos.
Conserved form: fragment of relief with concave reverse.
Height: 10.5 cm.
Width: 8.26 cm.
Weight: 156 g.

State of preservation

Fragment preserving the face, part of the hair and the tall headdress. Breaks and losses around the edge, notably at the apex and the base. Wear of the reliefs, surface deposits, and surface irregularities visible in the photographs.

According to information provided by the current owner, an additional support was added under the neck more than fifty years ago by the collector to allow the piece to rest flat. This presentation modification, identifiable by its lighter tone and its junction with the terracotta, is not part of the original fragment.

The photographs show the piece from several angles and complement the description.

Provenance:

Acquired from the auction house Auction Partners, in Germany.

Shipping:

Careful packaging, adapted to the fragility of terracotta, with reinforced protection and individual cushioning. The lot is insured during transport.

The intended attribution to Greater Greece, late 5th or early 4th century BC, represents a stylistic rapprochement. The dating and place of manufacture of this piece are not established.