Lot Essay
Item four: cf. R. Green and E. Handley, Images of the Greek Theatre, The British Museum, London, 1995, pp. 74-75, pl. 45 for a discussion of similar hetaira masks.
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CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C./A.D.
Details
TWO HELLENISTIC TERRACOTTA VOTIVE ACTOR'S MASKS
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C./A.D.
Hollow-moulded, one mask in the form of a slave with hair swept back, exaggerated arched eyebrows and large crescent-shaped mouth, pierced eyes; and a mask in the form of an old woman, her tightly curled hair arranged in high crescent above the head, with furrowed brow and grimacing features, 2 in. (5 cm.) long max.; another similar Hellenistic theatrical mask, bearded with bulging eyes and raised closely-knit brows, traces of foliate garland, two suspension holes above, circa 3rd Century B.C., 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) long; and a Greek terracotta model of a theatrical comic mask, in the form of a Hetaira, wearing fillet and wreath with ivy leaves at the side, thick luxuriant hair, with mouth agape, two suspension holes on crown, traces of slip, 400-200 B.C., 1¾ in. (4.5 cm.) high (4)
CIRCA 1ST CENTURY B.C./A.D.
Hollow-moulded, one mask in the form of a slave with hair swept back, exaggerated arched eyebrows and large crescent-shaped mouth, pierced eyes; and a mask in the form of an old woman, her tightly curled hair arranged in high crescent above the head, with furrowed brow and grimacing features, 2 in. (5 cm.) long max.; another similar Hellenistic theatrical mask, bearded with bulging eyes and raised closely-knit brows, traces of foliate garland, two suspension holes above, circa 3rd Century B.C., 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm.) long; and a Greek terracotta model of a theatrical comic mask, in the form of a Hetaira, wearing fillet and wreath with ivy leaves at the side, thick luxuriant hair, with mouth agape, two suspension holes on crown, traces of slip, 400-200 B.C., 1¾ in. (4.5 cm.) high (4)
Provenance
From a private collection formed in the late 1950s-1960s.
Special notice
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