Loading, please wait...

Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros Greek Marble Head of a Kouros
Use mousewheel to zoom in and out, click to enlarge
Details

LOT 0574

Greek Marble Head of a Kouros

EARLY 5TH CENTURY B.C.

7 1/8 in. (879 grams total, 18 cm high including stand).

Carved in the round; semi-naturalistic anatomic and facial detailing, hair gathered loosely at the neck and tied with a taenia knotted at the nape of the neck; mounted on a custom-made display base.

Provenance

Ex old European private property, by inheritance to the previous owner.
Ex Schuler Auktionen, Zürich, 10 December 2020, no.1211.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11817-206512.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Literature

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession no.1992.11.60, for a similar marble head of a Kouros, c.525-475 B.C., in Zimmerman, J.-L., Collection de la Fondation Thétis: Développements de l'Art Grec de la Préhistoire à Rome, Geneva, 1987, p.47, no.88; cf. also a slightly later head with tight, defined curls, likely to have come from a group within a funerary naiskos, no. 1972.118.111 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, in Von Bothmer, D. and d'Harnoncourt, R., Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities: An Exhibition from the Collection of Walter Cummings Baker, Esq. no. 59, p. 10, pl. 20, 1950, New York; see also Dörig, J., The Olympia Master and his collaborators, Leiden-New York-Köln-København, 1987.

Footnotes

The small statuette to which the head belonged was probably that of a naked youth, the so-called kouros, typical of archaic Greek sculpture from the 7th century B.C. onwards.

CONDITION
VETTING:

TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process


AUCTIONS:

TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.

Live Bidding

LOT 0574

Greek Marble Head of a Kouros

Estimate £2,000 - 3,000€2,320 - 3,480 (for guidance only)$2,700 - 4,050 (for guidance only)

Print page

RELATED LOTS
  • Large Etruscan Cornice Section
    Large Etruscan Cornice Section
    6th century B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680

    For a temple pediment (sima), comprising a curved upper band with polychrome tongue-shaped grooves, a relief depicting a procession of bulls below, the bulls depicted in a dynamic pose with curving necks and raised tails, the horns painted in black; two attachment holes. 4.66 kg, 50 cm



    Acquired on the European art market between 1960s-1980s. Property of a gentleman. with Bertolami Fine Arts Ltd, Auction 66, no.1. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12162-218594. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

    Terracotta plaques like this sima were used in the pediments of temples (Minerva at Veii, Portonaccio Sanctuary, 540-530 BC), or decorated the architecture of tombs. The procession of the bulls recalls the style of painting on a similar slab with a procession of hunting dogs, probably from Caere.

    Lot Details

  • Greek Apulian Black-Glazed Prochous
    Greek Apulian Black-Glazed Prochous
    Circa 320 B.C.

    Sold for (Inc. bp): £845

    With pedestal base, piriform body, tapering neck with beak-like spout and tall strap handle to the rear; the body painted in a series of bands of strokes, ovolo motifs, waves, pellets and pendant vineleaves in white, cream and ochre; label to underside 'Apulian Gnathian Prochous CA. 320 B.C.'. 176 grams, 18.3 cm



    Ex Fred Bentley Sr. GA (1926-2019). with Ahlers & Ogletree Inc., USA, 10 November 2023, no.343. Private collection, UK. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

    Lot Details

  • Greek Painted Terracotta Kylix
    Greek Painted Terracotta Kylix
    6th century B.C.

    Estimate: £400 - 600 (‡+bp*)

    Opening Bid: £200

    With trumpet-shaped foot, broad bowl with carinated profile, flared rim, two lateral D-shaped handles; horizontal painted bands. 249 grams, 21 cm wide



    Private collection of Mr S.A., Switzerland, 1990s, thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

    Lot Details

Stay up-to-date with the latest from TimeLine Auctions by joining our mailing list