Hellenistic Terracotta Bust and Head Group

4th-1st century BC. A group of three terracotta votive objects; a protome of a goddess (Persephone?) consisting of a veiled head and bust dressed with himation and peplos; upper part of a statue representing a male divinity with radiate crown; a fine protome of the goddess Demeter with well-modelled facial features, rounded chin, crowned by a centrally parted wavy coiffure and wearing a polos. Cf. Kilmer, M. F., The shoulder bust in Sicily and south and central Italy: A catalogue and materials for dating in Studies in Mediterranean archaeology 51, Göteborg, 1977; Mandel, U. & Gossel-Raeck, B., Votivterrakotten von der pergamenischen Oberburg, in Istanbuler Mitteilungen 54,, 2004, pp.311-330; and Szabó, N., Contribution à la question des protomes en terre cuite de la Grèce centrale, in Bulletin du Musée Hongrois des Beaux Arts 43, Budapest, 1975, 3-22. 174 grams total, 5.2-10.4cm (2 - 4"). From a private Netherlands collection; previously in an old collection since before 1980. Most bust-length protomes of gods were used as votive offerings (gifts to the gods) and hung on the walls of shrines or temples or even on trees growing in sacred groves. Terracotta protomes were usually brightly painted with yellow, red, blue, and pink pigments in order to create a lively presence. [3]
Condition Report: Fine condition.