Lot 1014* - A212 Decorative Arts - jeudi, 27. mars 2025, 13h30
HEAD OF A BOY - FROM A SWISS PRIVATE COLLECTION
Roman, 1st century AD, during the reign of Emperor Nero. Probably reworked in the 5th century AD.
Marble worked all around with sintering. Frontal view of a youthful boy's face with medium-length, wavy strands of hair. In the middle of the skullcap, three strands of a braid, which transition into three pearl- and jewel pendants at the front. The neck with childlike skin folds. Mounted on a later plinth.
H without plinth 25 cm.
Provenance:
Literature:
Nose missing, lips and chin with significant chips. Left half of the face flattened. Putty in the region of the mount.
In her scientific article "Ein wiederverwendetes Knabenporträt" (Rome, 1981), Angelika Geyer draws parallels between the head on offer and a portrait head of young Nero in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Geyer hypothesizes that the hair on the boy's head on offer was reworked in the 4th-5th century AD in order to add a jeweled pendant. According to John Pollini, such a reworking of earlier portrait heads was common practice (see “Recutting Roman Portraits: Problems in Interpretation and the New Technology in Finding Possible Solutions”. In: Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, vol. 55, 2010, pp. 24-44). Marble portraits of disgraced Roman emperors and their families in particular were altered and adapted to current fashion.
In her scientific article "Ein wiederverwendetes Knabenporträt" (Rome, 1981), Angelika Geyer draws parallels between the head on offer and a portrait head of young Nero in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Geyer hypothesizes that the hair on the boy's head on offer was reworked in the 4th-5th century AD in order to add a jeweled pendant. According to John Pollini, such a reworking of earlier portrait heads was common practice (see “Recutting Roman Portraits: Problems in Interpretation and the New Technology in Finding Possible Solutions”. In: Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome, vol. 55, 2010, pp. 24-44). Marble portraits of disgraced Roman emperors and their families in particular were altered and adapted to current fashion.
CHF 10 000 / 15 000 | (€ 10 310 / 15 460)
Vendu pour CHF 16 250 (frais inclus)