A Marble Head of a Young Satyr, Roman Imperial, circa 2nd half of the 1st Century A.D.

from a statue of a satyr playing the flute, after the late 4th/early 3rd century B.C. Greek original, turned to his right and looking slightly down, his unruly hair swept up above the diminutive horns and bound in a wreath of pine cones and needles.

private collection, United Kingdom (Christie's, London, July 16th, 1975, no. 208, illus.)
European private collection, acquired in the above sale (Bonham's, London, May 14th, 2003, no. 489, illus.)
Rupert Wace Ancient Art, London
California private collection

Good and as shown. Note chipped areas on face, hair and elsewhere. The ear on the proper left side is considerably more damaged than the proper right, which is visible in the catalogue photo. The back is in good condition except chips on the ends of the uplifted locks on the nape of the neck. The wreath has considerable chipping especially to one group of needles on the proper right side of the head behind the ear, which apparently at one time was restored. There is an area of fill about 2 1/2 inches long on the hair in back, visible to the left of the damaged group of needles behind the right ear in the catalogue.
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.

For the early Hellenistic statue type of a young satyr standing with his legs crossed and playing the double flute, see the examples compiled by A. Zimmermann, Kopienkritische Untersuchungen zum Satyr mit der Querflöte und verwandten Statuentypen, diss., Bern, 1994. One of the the best preserved copies is in the Louvre (see Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, vol. VIII.1, Munich, 1997, p. 1130, no. 216; vol. VIII.2, pl. 782).

For discussions of the Greek original and its date see O. Vasori, in A. Giuliano, ed., Museo Nazionale Romano. Le sculture, Rome, vol. I,1, 1979, pp. 104f., nr. 78, E. Künzl, Rivista di archeologia, vol. 9, 1985, p. 35f, P.C. Bol, in Forschungen zur Villa Albani. Katalog der antiken Bildwerke, vol. I, Berlin, 1989, pp. 93f, no. 21, R.M. Schneider, Forschungen zur Villa Albani. Katalog der antiken Bildwerke, vol. II, Berlin, 1990, pp. 42 f., B.S. Ridgway, Hellenistic Sculpture, vol. I, Madison, Wisc., 1990, p. 80 and 102, note 12, Zimmermann, op. cit., pp. 2f., 80f., and 110f., E. Angelicoussis, The Holkham Collection of Classical Sculptures, Mainz am Rhein, 2001, pp. 89-91, and F. Schröder, Katalog der antiken Skulpturen des Museo del Prado in Madrid, vol. 2, Mainz am Rhein, 2004, pp. 127f.