Etruscan Terracotta Votive Head of a Man. 24 cm H. 3rd-2nd century BC. TL Test.

Votive Head of a Man.

- Thermoluminescence test attached -

Etruscan, 3rd-2nd century BC.

Terracotta and pigments.

Height 24 cm

PROVENANCE: Private collection, Bergerac, France. 1970.

CONDITION: Good condition. An area of ​​the back of the neck is missing, visibly reconstructed. Maintains the original polychrome.

DESCRIPTION:

Etruscan male head, made of molded and fired terracotta. It represents a young man with an idealized face, with a straight mouth and thick lips, perfectly combed with his hair collected in thick locks regularly arranged around the face. It should be noted that the piece has been modeled in its entirety, since many Etruscan heads are smooth on the back, this is complete. Furthermore, the other characteristic that makes this head an important piece is the conservation of the original polychrome.

The Etruscans produced heads, profiles of faces, hands, feet and other body parts as accompanying votive offerings in fired clay for votive use.

Etruscan art is often religious in nature and is therefore related to the demands of the Etruscan religion. The Etruscan afterlife was negative, unlike the positive point of view of ancient Egypt where it was a continuation of earthly life, or the relationships of trust with the gods typical of ancient Greece. The Etruscan gods were indifferent and tended to bring good luck, so Etruscan religion was centered on their veneration and the adoration of the dead. Most of the remains of Etruscan art are found in cemetery excavations (such as at Cerveteri, Tarquinia, Populonia, Orvieto, Vetulonia, Norchia), which means that we see Etruscan art dominated by representations of religion and in particular cult funeral.

In the clay urns in which the remains of the deceased were kept, sculptural elements appear representing anatomical elements of the deceased, for example, the head-shaped lid. In a later phase, life-size human figures appear reclining on the lid as if it were a bed. The faces denote the influence of archaic Greek sculpture. In opposition to Greek stone sculpture, Etruscan sculpture takes shape in softer materials that enable a more elastic, fluid and rounded modulation, imbuing the figures with a natural spontaneity.





Notes:

The piece includes authenticity certificate.
The piece includes Spanish Export License.
THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE FROM SPAIN ASKS ALL SELLERS FOR INVOICES OR OTHER DOCUMENTATION ABLE TO PROVE THE LEGALITY OF EACH ITEM BEFORE PROVIDING AN IMPORT OR EXPORT LICENSE.
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