Large Votive Head of Demeter or Persephone

Culture: Greek

Period: 4th-3rd century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 28 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 2231

Provenance: French private collection, acquired on 4 May 1986 at gallery Carrefour in Paris. Accompanied by a handwritten original expertise by Pierre Vérité. With a French antiquities passport.

Condition: A small restoration on the base and on the forehead, but of a strong expression. On the back smoothed with restored vent hole.

Description: Finely worked, slightly larger-than-life-size votive head of a female deity, possibly Demeter or Persephone, with individual features. The eyes looking gently out from thick lids, the mouth is slightly opened to a smile. The goddess wears a high polos, the hair centre parted, only visible at the temples and pulled behind the ears. Votive heads such like this one were found in sanctuaries of Demeter in Heracleia in Policoro, south Italy. Mounted.