Terracotta Herm with Workshop-Signature

Culture: Greek/South Italy

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

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 26.2 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 2330

Provenance: Old Belgian private collection, on the inside the written collection number 15. Thence with André Munter Archeologie, Brussels, Belgium. There acquired on 3 February 2002 by another Belgian private collection. Accompanied by an original certificate from André De Munter, Brussels, Belgium. On the back of the certificate a sticker with the stamp of a court inspection of 26 June 2009 with the signature of the law clerk F. Coene N.

Condition: Intact

Description: Terracotta herm on a high base. The bust depicts a male deity with a high radiating segmented crown, underneath the long curly hair cascading over the shoulders. Short wavy strands covering the forehead. Approximately in the middle of the statuette the male genitals in relief. On the back of the base engraved Greek letters as the workshop’s signature. From Southern Italy. Herms like the present one had an apotropaic function, they were placed at crossroads, borders or gates to ward off evil. They were often associated with the god Hermes, protector of merchants and travellers.