Roman Marble Torso of a Female w/ Belted Peplos

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. Finely carved from marble, the draped torso of a female, wearing a peplos with a folded over apoptygma double layer covering the upper body as well as a tied sash over the upper section of the apoptygma. The peplos was first worn by women in ancient Greece. It is amazing to realize that the garment was formed from a simple rectangular piece of cloth that was hardly sewn if at all, but was instead held in place with fibulae and belts as we see in this example. Although this is a fragment from a larger sculpture, it is possible to discern that the right leg is advancing a bit, suggesting a weight shift to infer a more natural human pose. The peplos, with its characteristic form and painstakingly delineated folds cascading over the feminine form is iconic to the classical world. Size: 3.5" L x 5.125" W x 10.25" H (8.9 cm x 13 cm x 26 cm); 12.375" H (31.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Mazard Family collection, France / New York, USA, acquired in the 1980s to 1990s

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#147188
Condition Report: A section from a larger sculptural relief - uncarved on the verso and with losses to peripheries and chips to high-pointed areas as shown. A bit of adhesive visible around drill hole where the stand is joined to the piece. Deposits grace the surface.