Greek Marble Head of a Female

A carved marble head of Hermes with densely curled hair, stern facial expression beneath a broad brow, luxuriant curled beard falling in waves and cut square at the lower edge; mounted on a custom-made display stand; a Roman copy after a 5th century B.C. Greek original. 32.2 kg total, 52 cm high including stand

Slot to top of head.

with Chaucer Fine Arts Ltd, 1980s. English private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Marina Mattei and Dr Laura Maria Vigna. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11615-199747.

This type of this archaic sculpture can be traced back to the original of which many copies and variants have been preserved: the Hermes Propylaios by the Attic sculptor Alkamenes, a pupil of Phidias, active in the second half of the 5th century B.C. According to some theories, the herma was created for the Propylaea of the acropolis of Athens, as patron deity of doors and entrances; according to others, this type of bearded Hermes is not to be located at the Propylaea, but in various possible places inside the Acropolis.

An aqua coloured amphoriskos with an elongated piriform shape and tubular neck with everted rim, handles and knop foot applied using a contrasting aubergine-coloured glass; decorative white trails and festooning to the body and neck; repaired. 124 grams, 14.4 cm high



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.

A matching pair of hinged gold earrings, each composed of a hollow-formed crescentic hoop adorned with a row of granulation and pyramid granules; hinged closure above. 3.95 grams total, 18 mm each

Fine condition.

Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.