Marble Statuette of Demeter

Culture: Roman

Period: 1st-2nd century A.D.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 47.5 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3185

Provenance: Collection Dr. Roland Droh, acquired between 1960 to 1980. With Dr. Roland Droh’s authentication dated 25 September 2013. Thence Galerie Antiken-Kabinett Gackstätter, inventory number 4469. With certificate of Antiken-Kabinett Gackstätter. With excerpt of the Art Loss Register dated 18 October 2013.

Condition: On the lower part of the coat brownish sinter. The right hand, the upper part of the torch broken, as well as the cascading panel around the right elbow. The nose is added, professionally restored breaks.

Description: Statuette of Demeter, equal to Ceres in the Roman world, of finely crystalline marble. The still youthful goddess standing on the original plinth and wearing a chiton, over her left shoulder a himation (coat). Of high artistic quality outlining through the thick pleats of the heavy coat fabric are the silhouettes of the left engaged leg and the right, slightly bent free leg. Very striking is the high polos covered by a fringed veil, crowning the head of the goddess. In her left hand Demeter is holding a long, on the upper part broken torch. The right hand is pointing forward. In the today missing hand tufts of ear of corn are probably to be added. The long oval face with a narrow nose and eyes, framed by strongly accentuated lids, as well as the parted hair above the forehead present clear reminiscences to the classical period. Ceres, in Rome the equivalent to Demeter, enjoyed a distinct cultic worship for marriage, the sepulchral culture and farming (cultivation of grain). With some color remains on some parts of the coat.