TWO CYPRIOT TERRACOTTA VOTIVE HEADS

CIRCA 5TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.

Details

TWO CYPRIOT TERRACOTTA VOTIVE HEADS
circa 5th-3rd century b.c.
One hand-modelled, solid, with arching brows which merge with a short, pointed nose, flat eyes and a small mouth, the hair bound in a fillet; and one hand-modelled, hollow, the back missing, with rimmed almond-shaped eyes and a large nose, his lips pursed into a slight smile, the forehead fringed with vertical locks, a fragmentary fillet above; together with two fragmentary alabaster alabastrons, a black-on-red juglet, a gray-ware juglet, and a Roman cylindrical glass bottle
6in. (15.2cm.) high for the tallest (7)

Lot Essay

The first item, mounted on a wood pedestal and labeled no. "402," is likely from the collection of Luigi Palma di Cesnola, American consul to Cyprus from 1865 to 1876. Much of his collection of more than 35,000 items was later acquired by the Metropolitan Museum. The present example may have been part of the 1928 de-accession.