$16,250
circa early to mid 3rd century c. e. life-size, depicted in her late teens or twenties with soft idealizing features, her long oval face with high cheek bones, the mouth small with full fleshy lips, dimpled in the corners, the large convex almond-shaped eyes with the irises articulated, with heavy upper and lower lids, with sharp high arching brows, her hair center parted, arranged in ridged rows and spiraled into a wide chignon at the top of her head, perhaps unfinished. Height 9 1/4 inches. Intact, as preserved, with some large chips and losses, a few of which are filled - including the proper right brow with some fill and a patch to the left of the chin. A large loss to the chin, and much of the nose lost. The break along the neck uneven. A gash to the right cheek. Small chips and surface wear throughout. Wear, discoloration and some incrustation, especially within the rows of hair. Perhaps unfinished. Provenance: Consigned on behalf of a client who is deceased. That client's family recalls that archaeologist friends in London gave the head as a gift in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The client was an archaeologist herself, working mostly in Central and South America.
Auctioneer:
Leslie Hindman Auctioneers
Date:
2016-07-18
