The Chiurazzi firm was a prolific and well established foundry, operating in Naples from the beginning of the 19th century. The foundry specialised in fine and highly chiselled casts amongst which they produced a range of busts after the Antique. The present bust of Plato was based on an Antique head discovered at Herculaneum in 1741; this model was produced in different sizes. A similar but smaller lot was sold in these rooms, 28 April 1993.