Graeco-Italian Silver Female Statuette Holding Breasts

Graeco-Italian Silver Female Statuette Holding Breasts 6th century BC

A silver statuette of a nude female with her hands on her breasts, the hair arranged in tresses around the brow and sides in orderly fashion, characteristic of the style known as Daedalic, which was particularly well attested in Crete, in parts of the Peloponnesos including Lakonia, as well as in southern Italy and Ionia; with remains of old label to the rear of the base: ' - IANT / CARTH. / 5/63'. 67 grams total, 11cm including stand (4 1/4"). Fine condition.
Provenance
From the private collection of a medical professional; previously acquired from Drouot, Paris, France, 9 March 2004; formerly in an old private collection, since 1980; accompanied by the original French passport number 216703; and a copy of the Drouot 2004 invoice; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10132-164016.
Literature
See Richter, G.M.A., Korai, Archaic Greek Maidens, a study of the development of the Kore Type in Greek sculpture, Edinburgh, 1968, figs.16-22, 60-62 & 309-312, for prototypes and similar examples.
Footnotes
The hair is indicative of the period, following the current fashion of the age. In the 7th century BC the hair of Korai (maidens) hung down at the back and sides in solid locks. In the 6th century BC these masses of hair were differentiated into tresses, kept sometimes in a mass at the back but separated both in front and on either side, or falling down straight on the back and sides; the fashion was amazingly uniform, lasting throughout later archaic times. It is possible that the long locks descending on either side of the face were artificial.