A Marble Head of a Youth, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D.

in the style of a Greek sculpture of the 5th Century B.C., with straight nose, parted lips drilled in the inner corners, and almond-shaped eyes, his wavy hair radiating from the crown, parted in the center over the forehead, and bound in a fillet wound twice around the head, a hole at the back of the neck for insertion of a metal tenon.

Sotheby's, London, December 12th, 1988, no. 136, illus.
private collection (Christie's, London, May 14th-15th, 2002, no. 391, illus.)
Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, July 2005

Sotheby's, London, December 8th, 1994, no. 132, illus.
Royal-Athena Galleries, New York, Art of the Ancient World, no. 78, vol. XIV, January 2003, no. 24, illus.

Surface evenly weathered, note chipped tip of nose with now obscured dowel hole (viisble in Sotheby's London catalogue photo) meant to secure marble restoration, underside of neck polished up for positioning on marble bust in modern times, eyebrows, upper lip and chin lightly chipped, rims of both ears damaged, lobe of proper left ear broken off, ring of paint on proper right cheek probably obscures small area of restoration, modern hole with remains of rusty iron dowel in hair above nape of neck has fresh shallow chips around it.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The polished underside and filed edges of the neck indicate that the present head was once mounted on a bust in modern times.

For related heads of youths in the classicizing style see Paul Zanker, Klassizistische Statuen: Studien zur Veränderung des Kunstgeschmacks in der römischen Kaiserzeit, Mainz, 1974, pls. 68-69.