Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Marble Head of a hellenistic ruler - 16.5 cm

No. 84606441

Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Marble Head of a hellenistic ruler - 16.5 cm #1.1
Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Marble Head of a hellenistic ruler - 16.5 cm #1.2
Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Marble Head of a hellenistic ruler - 16.5 cm #2.1

Marble head of a ruler, probably Ptolemy V or VI
Greek, hellenistic period, 3rd-2nd century B.C.

Sculpted approximately half-lifesized, his oval head sligthly inclined to the right, almond-shaped eyes, heavy lids, slender nose, rounded chin and small mouth with parted lips, the curls of his short wavy hair summarily rendered and bound in a diadem; two drill holes on top of the head for the now lost diadem
16.5 cm. high

Note
Two grooves along the top of this head originally held a royal diadem, presumably made of bronze, and indicates that the man represented is a ruler. A number of royal portraits can be grouped around the Egyptian Greek kings of the second and early first centuries B.C. (Ptolemies IV-VIII), but a precise identification is often difficult because many of these marble portraits were clearly reworked to represent the next king who seized power. In addition, some of the finer marble likenesses, including the head under consideration, were strongly idealized thus further hampering an accurate identification. The splendid series of royal portraits on Ptolemaic coins provides the best surviving evidence for pinpointing individual rulers. For a similar portrait head of Ptolemy IV, see H. Kyrieleis, Bildnisse der Ptolemäer, Berlin, 1975, p. 47 no. 171, Pl. 36.

Provenance
Art market, Switzerland, May 1989
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired form the above

Exhibition
Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, 2002 - 2017

Literature
Renate Thomas, Eine postume Statuette Ptolemaios’ IV. und ihr historischer Kontext. Zur Götterangleichung hellenistischer Herrscher. Mainz: von Zabern 2002. VIII, 108 S. 20 Taf. 4º. Trierer Winckelmannsprogramme, Heft 18.

Condition
Tip of nose missing, minor chips and scratches to the surface, otherwise intact.

Shipping terms
Worldwide shipping. No export permit needed to ship from Switzerland.Buyers have to cover transport costs and any additional import costs (e.g. VAT, import levies). You also acknowledge and accept that you are responsible for checking if there is any specific rule or restriction applicable to the import of an object into your country.
#masterpieces

Seller's Story

Founded in 2016, Plektron Fine Arts is established near Paradeplatz in the heart of Zurich, Switzerland. With nearly twenty years of experience in the cultural sector and international art world, Ludovic Marock started his career i.a. at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. He represented Christie's premier offices in Zurich as an Antiquities specialist in charge of all consignments for worldwide sales from Continental Europe. Plectrum Fine Arts proposes archaeological works of art from the Mediterranean area, with a particular emphasis on the Greek and Roman periods.
Translated by Google Translate

Marble head of a ruler, probably Ptolemy V or VI
Greek, hellenistic period, 3rd-2nd century B.C.

Sculpted approximately half-lifesized, his oval head sligthly inclined to the right, almond-shaped eyes, heavy lids, slender nose, rounded chin and small mouth with parted lips, the curls of his short wavy hair summarily rendered and bound in a diadem; two drill holes on top of the head for the now lost diadem
16.5 cm. high

Note
Two grooves along the top of this head originally held a royal diadem, presumably made of bronze, and indicates that the man represented is a ruler. A number of royal portraits can be grouped around the Egyptian Greek kings of the second and early first centuries B.C. (Ptolemies IV-VIII), but a precise identification is often difficult because many of these marble portraits were clearly reworked to represent the next king who seized power. In addition, some of the finer marble likenesses, including the head under consideration, were strongly idealized thus further hampering an accurate identification. The splendid series of royal portraits on Ptolemaic coins provides the best surviving evidence for pinpointing individual rulers. For a similar portrait head of Ptolemy IV, see H. Kyrieleis, Bildnisse der Ptolemäer, Berlin, 1975, p. 47 no. 171, Pl. 36.

Provenance
Art market, Switzerland, May 1989
Private collection, Switzerland, acquired form the above

Exhibition
Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, 2002 - 2017

Literature
Renate Thomas, Eine postume Statuette Ptolemaios’ IV. und ihr historischer Kontext. Zur Götterangleichung hellenistischer Herrscher. Mainz: von Zabern 2002. VIII, 108 S. 20 Taf. 4º. Trierer Winckelmannsprogramme, Heft 18.

Condition
Tip of nose missing, minor chips and scratches to the surface, otherwise intact.

Shipping terms
Worldwide shipping. No export permit needed to ship from Switzerland.Buyers have to cover transport costs and any additional import costs (e.g. VAT, import levies). You also acknowledge and accept that you are responsible for checking if there is any specific rule or restriction applicable to the import of an object into your country.
#masterpieces

Seller's Story

Founded in 2016, Plektron Fine Arts is established near Paradeplatz in the heart of Zurich, Switzerland. With nearly twenty years of experience in the cultural sector and international art world, Ludovic Marock started his career i.a. at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. He represented Christie's premier offices in Zurich as an Antiquities specialist in charge of all consignments for worldwide sales from Continental Europe. Plectrum Fine Arts proposes archaeological works of art from the Mediterranean area, with a particular emphasis on the Greek and Roman periods.
Translated by Google Translate
Culture
Ancient Greek, Hellenistic
Name of object
Head of a hellenistic ruler
Century/ Timeframe
3rd-2nd century B.C.
Provenance
Private Collection
Country of Origin
Greece
Material
Marble
Condition
Tip of nose missing, minor chips and scratches to the surface and at the back of the head, otherwise
Height
16.5 cm

Disclaimer

The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.

The seller guarantees and can prove that the object was obtained legally. The seller was informed by Catawiki that they had to provide the documentation required by the laws and regulations in their country of residence. The seller guarantees and is entitled to sell/export this object. The seller will provide all provenance information known about the object to the buyer. The seller ensures that any necessary permits are/will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer immediately about any delays in obtaining such permits.

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