Lot Essay
Chalcedony, a type of cryptocrystalline quartz ranging in colour from grey to blue, was among the semi-precious gems favoured by the Romans. Many small sculptures in this precious material survive, often depicting members of the imperial family or deities. This head is carved in the round, likely from a full figure or bust, with centrally-parted hair combed back and delicate features.
For a discussion of Roman miniature sculptures in chalcedony, see M. Padgett, 'A Chalcedony Statuette of Herakles', in Record of the Art Museum of Princeton University, vol. 54, no. 1, 1995, pp. 2-22.