An Etruscan Terracotta Portrait Head of a Woman, Circa 3rd/2nd Century B.C.

her finely modeled face with dimpled chin, outlined slightly parted lips, straight nose, and pierced ears, her hair parted in the center and brushed back from the temples, and bound in a fillet wound twice around the head.

Denys Sutton (1917-1991), London, acquired between 1957 and 1972
by descent to the present owner

Much of the back of the head and neck are missing. What remains is repaired from three large fragments, with an area of fill on the forehead and crown. Note chips to nose and smaller chips to proper left ear and hair above the forehead. The applied fillet passes twice around the hair, and much of the back portion of it is missing. The repair lines and fill visible in the photos have been softened in appearance since the pictures were taken and are less visible. The surface of the head is in excellent condition, with root marks remaining both there and inside.
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.

A terracotta bust of woman in the Museo Gregoriano Etrusco, inv. no. 14107, appears to be closely related to the present example; see The Etruscans, Legacy of a Lost Civilization from the Vatican Museums, Memphis and Morristown, 1992, p.13, no. 71. The author comments on its singularity and individual character.

Denys Miller Sutton (1917-1991) assumed the role of editor of the London-based arts magazine Apollo in 1962, and retained this position for about 25 years, during which he considerably expanded the scope of the publication, addressing sensitive art preservation issues, attracting new contributors among prominent art historians and writers, writing many articles himself, and devoting several issues to the collections of museums around the world. His strong and unrelenting interest in the visual arts was a lifelong pursuit: he served as secretary of the international commission for the restitution of cultural material after World War II, worked as an art critic for Country Life and the Financial Times, authored several books on painting, including works on Watteau, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, and Whistler, and organized several exhibitions abroad such as shows on Constable and Titian in Tokyo. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (vol. 53, Oxford, 2003, p. 382) describes him as an "astute collector of art."