A Small Marble Portrait Head of a Man of Letters, 2nd/3rd Century A.D.

with short beard, parted lips, prominent cheek-bones, heavy-lidded eyes, and balding pate; no restorations.

Sotheby's, London, December 1st, 1969, no. 152, illus.
Folio Fine Art, Ltd., London, aquired at the above sale
probably Charles Ede, Ltd., London
Sotheby's, London, December 9th-10th, 1993, no. 175, illus.
Jean-Philippe Mariaud de Serres (1944-2007), Galerie Serres, Paris
acquired from the above by the present owner

Charles Ede, Collecting Antiquities. An introductory guide, London, 1976, fig. 150

Tip of nose slightly chipped, surface slightly worn, minor nicks and abrasions.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Cf. a portrait-type commonly identified as the late antique philosopher Plotinus: W. Fischer-Bossert, Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2001, pp. 137ff., and C. Danguillier, Typologische Untersuchungen zur Dichter- und Denkerikonographie in römischen Darstellungen von der mittleren Kaiserzeit bis in die Spätantike (BAR, no. 977), 2001, p. 53.