An Etruscan terracotta votive head of a boy Circa 3rd-2nd Century B.C. 27.5cm high The Etruscans produced heads, profiles of faces, hands, feet and other body parts as attached ex-votos in fired clay for votive use. Etruscan art is often of a religious nature and is therefore related to the demands of the Etruscan religion. The Etruscan afterlife was negative, unlike the positive view of ancient Egypt where it was a continuation of earthly life, or the trusting relationships with the gods typical of ancient Greece. The Etruscan gods were indifferent and tended to bring good luck, so the Etruscan religion was centered on their veneration and the worship of the dead. Most of the remains of Etruscan art are found in excavations of cemeteries (as in Cerveteri, Tarquinia, Populonia, Orvieto, Vetulonia, Norchia), which means that we see Etruscan art dominated by representations of religion and in particular the cult funeral. In the clay urns in which the remains of the deceased were kept, there are sculptural elements representing anatomical elements of the deceased, for example, the head-shaped lid. In a later phase, life-size human figures appear reclining on the lid as if it were a bed. The faces denote the influence of archaic Greek sculpture. In opposition to the Greek sculpture in stone, the Etruscan sculpture takes shape in softer materials that allow a more elastic, fluid and rounded modulation, imbuing the figures with a natural spontaneity. Provenance: Private collection, London, reputedly acquired at Christie's South Kensington salesroom. Anonymous sale; Bonhams, London, 30 October 2003, lot 188. Private collection, UK, acquired at the above sale. The Supplier warrants that he obtained this lot legally. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days. Important: For destinations out of Spanish territory: all our objects will be shipped after obtaining CERTIFICATE OF EXPORTATION by Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks.