Greek Hellenistic Terracotta Grotesque Bust - Comedy

Greece, Hellenistic period, ca. late 4th to 2nd century BCE. A charming head, neck, and partial chest of a "grotesque" figure, with a bald head, deeply furrowed brow, giant ears and nose, small eyes, and a mouth in a deep grimace. Small tufts of hair are depicted at the temples. Grotesque depictions from the Hellenistic period are believed to relate to the tradition of New Comedy - the Greek form of situational comedy and comedy of manners, most notably written by Menander, Philemon, and Diphilus. A particular stock character from the New Comedy is Parasite, who according to the Oxford Classical Dictionary, plays this role: "Parasites attach themselves to their social superiors for their own advantage, above all for free meals; in return they flatter or entertain their patron, run errands, and suffer much ill-treatment." We know that they are often depicted as bald, middle-aged, and beardless, usually with a large nose and knitted brow - so this head likely represents this stock character. Size: 3.2" W x 4" H (8.1 cm x 10.2 cm); 6.55" H (16.6 cm) on included custom stand.

See a similar, but more crude, example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/252978

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#146207
Condition Report: This is a fragment from a larger sculpture, lost below the shoulders. A small area of the neck has been repaired; otherwise it is in very nice condition, with well preserved details and light deposits on the surface.