A pottery bust of a woman, perhaps a goddess,... Lot 16

A pottery bust of a woman, perhaps a goddess, with a dramatic coiffure and a tall, pointed coronet or tiara above a realistic, serious face. This protome is a type of bust made by pressing a thin layer of terracotta into a single mold. These were first made in Rhodes, but from the early fifth century BCE onwards they spread throughout Greece. Upon its original creation, this piece would likely have been painted in vibrant pigments. Protomes like this example would have been dedicated in an ancient temple to the local deity, perhaps to thank the god or goddess, or to assist in making a request. Ancient Greece - 500-300 BC. Dimensions: H: 14 7/8 in., (38 cm.) Good overall. Part of the crown is lost. Nice preservation of facial features with heavy encrustation on the surface. See photos for reference.