Fine Greek Hellenistic Marble Head, Possibly Aphrodite

Greece, late Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE. A finely rendered, hand-carved marble head of a female deity, perhaps depicting Aphrodite (Roman Venus), the goddess of love, passion, and ecstasy. Her elegant coiffure is formed of long, wavy wisps bound with a cord in front and pulled into a chignon on top of her head. Her feminine visage is of an ovoid form with downcast, almond-shaped eyes beneath sweeping, pensive brows, a triangular nose, full lips, a rounded chin, and cupped ears behind smooth cheeks. The creamy white hue of the marble is interspersed with dark gray inclusions as well as burnt sienna earthen deposits that create a chromatically captivating composition. Size: 3.4" W x 4.875" H (8.6 cm x 12.4 cm); 7.625" H (19.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, Vol. XXV (2014), no. 5

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: Acquired on the London art market in November 2012; ex-Eduardo Alonso collection, Switzerland, 1960s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#165072
Condition Report: This is a fragment of a larger marble figure. Losses to body below neckline as shown. Chips to nose, neckline, and coiffure, with light encrustations within some recessed areas, and softening to some facial features. Beautiful preservation to feminine visage and intricate coiffure detailing.