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A Marble Head of Zeus, Eastern Mediterranean, Roman Imperial, 2nd Century A.D.
Estimate
50,000 - 80,000 USD
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Description
- A Marble Head of Zeus, Eastern Mediterranean, Roman Imperial
- marble
- Height 9 1/4 in. 23.5 cm.
turned slightly to his left, his face with parted lips, eyes with incised irises and drilled pupils, and centrally-divided beard, his long deeply-drilled wavy hair parted in the center, tied in a diadem with large Herakles knot in back, and bound in a laurel wreath with oval medallion in front.
Provenance
Raymond Thullier (1897-1993), chef and founder of the famous restaurant L'Oustaou de Baumanière, Les Baux-de-Provence, acquired in the 1960s or earlier
by descent to his son Jean-Michel Charial, Les Baux-de-Provence
by descent to his son Jean-Michel Charial, Les Baux-de-Provence
Condition
As shown. Scattered chips, abrasions, and minor losses, including a shallow chip across the left eye and shallow chips on the proper right side of the base of the neck and proper left below hair in front. Head more summarily carved in back and on proper left side.
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
For a related head of Zeus without a diadem see Richard Brilliant, Mythological Figures and Portraits: the Miller Collection of Roman Sculpture, Minneapolis, 2004, cat. no. 1.
The present head is unusual in that Zeus wears a wreath of laurel leaves rather than oak, one of his main attributes. The laurel wreath with central medallion is more commonly associated with portraits of emperors (cf. a relief depicting the triumph of Trajan found at Praeneste [N. Agnoli, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Palestrina. Le sculture, Rome, 2002, 222 ff., no. III.5, fig. 5a-i, http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/39369], two portrait heads from Algeria [A. Ballu and R. Cagnet, Musée de Timgad, Paris, Leroux, 1903, pl. IV, no. 3], and Christie's, New York, June 8th, 2004, no. 69, cover lot).