Published Hellenistic Marble Head of Isis, ex-Sotheby's

Greece, late Hellenistic Period, ca. 1st century BCE. A beautifully rendered marble head depicting the Egyptian goddess Isis, her head turned to her right as if looking over her right shoulder, and her wavy, centrally parted coiffure bound in a diadem, and falling in a broad plait over the nape of the neck and in a thick tress behind each ear. Her sensitively modeled countenance bears slender, almond-shaped eyes beneath heavy brows, a petite nose, indented mouth corners flanking full lips, a rounded chin, and gently tapered cheeks in front of cupped, nearly hidden ears. A petite mortise atop the head was meant for the insertion of her signature crown. Size: 2.9" W x 3.8" H (7.4 cm x 9.7 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Published: J. Eisenberg, Art of the Ancient World, Vol. XXV (2014), no. 3.

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: ex-Sotheby's New York, November 2012; ex-Professor Herman S. Gunderheimer (1903-2004) collection, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, acquired in Europe in the 1950s, thence by descent to a New England, USA collector

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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.

#165071
Condition Report: This is a fragment of a larger marble figure. Possible restored to chin. Original crown missing as shown. Chips and loss to tip of nose and upper lip, with light encrustations within recessed areas of coiffure, and some chipping along neckline. Wonderful preservation to feminine features of visage, and smooth surface texture throughout.