Greek Head of a Dioscuros, ex Ernst Pfuhl, around 450 BC
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Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Greek: Sculpture: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1459953
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Ancient World: Greek: Sculpture: Pre AD 1000: Item # 1459953
Ostracon Ancient Art
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Bernhard I. Muller, PhD
Gallery by appointment
Zurich, Switzerland
Guest Book
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Bernhard I. Muller, PhD
Gallery by appointment
Zurich, Switzerland
Guest Book
$780.00
Terracotta head of one of the Dioscuri wearing a pointed cap with bulged rim. Strands of wavy hair frame the face.
The head is almost entirely covered with a white slip. The details of the face such as eyes and mouth were rendered with additional colors.
The celestial twins Castor and Pollux, the so-called Dioscuri, were regarded as the patrons of travellers and sailors. They were also associated with horsemanship and considered to be supportive in critical situations.
On the back an old label with the inscription Ἐλάτεια A/2 [18]84, indicating the Phocian city of Elateia as the place where the piece was found and the year of discovery.
Elateia was after Delphi the second most important place in the Phocis region.
The second label refers to Fischer’s 1941 sale and reads B1407-232-pe.
Διόσκουρος written with pencil on the back.
For a similar head on a figure identified as Hermes, cf. C42, pl. 63 in: Simone Mollard-Besques. Catalogue Raisonné des Figurines et Reliefs en Terre-Cuite Grecs Etrusques et Romains, Vol. I. Paris 1954.
Terracotta
Greek Phocian, around 450 BC
H. 8 cm (3.1 in)
Head fragment, broken at the neck level. Interesting piece with excellent provenance.
Ex collection of Ernst Pfuhl (1876-1940), Basel, renowned classical archaeologist and art historian.
Thence Galerie Fischer Luzern, May 1941 sale, lot 232/1 (with copy of the catalogue entry).
Auction house owner Theodor Fischer gifts the piece to a friend in July 02, 1941 (copy of the accompanying note and list of objects joined).
The authenticity of the object is unconditionally guaranteed.
The head is almost entirely covered with a white slip. The details of the face such as eyes and mouth were rendered with additional colors.
The celestial twins Castor and Pollux, the so-called Dioscuri, were regarded as the patrons of travellers and sailors. They were also associated with horsemanship and considered to be supportive in critical situations.
On the back an old label with the inscription Ἐλάτεια A/2 [18]84, indicating the Phocian city of Elateia as the place where the piece was found and the year of discovery.
Elateia was after Delphi the second most important place in the Phocis region.
The second label refers to Fischer’s 1941 sale and reads B1407-232-pe.
Διόσκουρος written with pencil on the back.
For a similar head on a figure identified as Hermes, cf. C42, pl. 63 in: Simone Mollard-Besques. Catalogue Raisonné des Figurines et Reliefs en Terre-Cuite Grecs Etrusques et Romains, Vol. I. Paris 1954.
Terracotta
Greek Phocian, around 450 BC
H. 8 cm (3.1 in)
Head fragment, broken at the neck level. Interesting piece with excellent provenance.
Ex collection of Ernst Pfuhl (1876-1940), Basel, renowned classical archaeologist and art historian.
Thence Galerie Fischer Luzern, May 1941 sale, lot 232/1 (with copy of the catalogue entry).
Auction house owner Theodor Fischer gifts the piece to a friend in July 02, 1941 (copy of the accompanying note and list of objects joined).
The authenticity of the object is unconditionally guaranteed.
