Archaic Etruscan Terracotta Antefix in Form of a Female Head

Culture: Etruscan

Period: 550-500 B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 17 cm high; 28.4 cm long

Price: 12 000 Euro

Ref: 4167

Provenance: According to reports English private collection prior to 1970. Thence US private collection, acquired from Faustus Ancient Art Ltd. in London in 1988. Thence Royal Athena gallery New York, published in "Art oft the Ancient World”, Volume XXII, 2011, number 93. Last in the private collection Sigrid Fiebig, Bad Herrenalb, Germany, acquired on 3 April 2016 in an Austrian gallery. With original invoice and certificate from 2016.

Condition: Retouching on one eye, on the right side the extension is broken, parts of the right eye and strands are missing. Otherwise beautifully preserved.

Description: Wonderfully preserved terracotta antefix in form of an archaic female head with beautifully preserved paint. The large, almond-shaped eyes with round painted pupils and above diligently drawn brows. The mouth is formed to the typical smile, the nose is relatively large and long. The black painted hair cascades in regular waves into the forehead, a longer strand falls in front of each ear, two more thick strands fall on the sides over the neck. The woman wears a necklace with red and black beads. Still preserved behind the head are large parts of the long extension, which was used to attach the antefix to the eave. Possibly from Cerveteri, ancient Caere.