Late Archaic Etruscan Terracotta Antefix of a Maenad

Culture: Etruscan

Period: Late 6th to early 5th century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 19.8 cm x 21.1 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 4211

Provenance: Sotheby's Parke-Bernet auction New York on 8 May 1976, lot 297. There acquired by the US collection Frank Raysor (1943-2022). Until 1991 in the collection, thence bestowed to the Virgina Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, Virgina. There registered with the object number NA.1991.197. In 2023 sold from the museum inventory to create financial means. With a copy of the inventory list.

Condition: Unrestored

Description: Large terracotta antefix of a woman, possibly a maenad, with exceedingly charming, late archaic features. The eyes almond-shaped, the mouth formed to the typical smile. Her face is framed on top by fine snail-like curls. She wears above a high headdress with two thick bands cascading on each side, which roll to volutes at the bottom. The ears protrude under the headdress. In this interesting composition late archaic features mix with classical features. With an old inventory number at the bottom. See for the type of the antefix in the Staatliches Antikensammlungen München with the inventory number NI 5041, published in “Die Etrusker. Von Villanova bis Rom.”, Florian S. Knauß and Jörg Gebauer (ed.), Munich 2015, page 222, fig. 5.34. Mounted.