Sculpture, Testa di’ Bucranio - 40 cm - Wax

Human head and skull – Clay maquette with a plaster core

Preparatory sketch depicting a man's head placed next to a skull, made of wax with an internal core of plaster. The model, originating from an artistic foundry active between Nocera and Aversa, is part of the technical preparatory process for bronze casting using the lost wax method.

Characteristics
Subject: head of a man and a bucranio
Material: wax with a plaster core
Type: preliminary sketch for casting.
• Dimensions: approx. 20 × 15 cm (width × depth)
• Origin: Nocera / Aversa, Italy

Historical and symbolic context

Wax models were essential in the casting process: they served as preparatory templates to study proportions and volumes before moving on to bronze. Because the wax was usually destroyed during the process, models of this kind are now rare pieces and of great collector interest.

The bucranio (bull skull) is a typical decorative motif of Roman classical art, often used in friezes and marble reliefs as a symbol of ritual sacrifice, strength, and fertility. Its presence alongside the human head recalls the ancient iconographic language that combined realistic elements with sacred and votive references.

Conditions

Opera in good overall condition, with original patina and readable details. An authentic example of preparatory art, a historical testimony of the sculptural tradition of Campania between Nocera and Aversa.