Lot 1344
Greek. Marble Head of a Aphrodite, ca. 2nd Century AD. An exquisite marble head of Aphrodite carved in the "Classical" Praxiteles style. She has an eternally youthful face with a soft but sensual stare and delicate smile. Her hair swept back back into a chignon by simple diadem and tied into a top knot, as though she is prepared to bathe. The nose is free from repair! Height: 10"; Length: 8"; Width: 8 ½".
In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of love, beauty and sexual rapture. According to Hesiod, she was born when Uranus was castrated by his son Cronus. Cronus threw the severed genitals into the ocean which began to churn and foam about them and from the aphros ("sea foam") arose Aphrodite, and the sea carried her to either Cyprus or Cythera. She is idenifyable here because of the elaborate hairstyle with the diadem and bow top knot. This hairstyle is specific to the iconography of Aphrodite bathing and can be seen in sculptures of Aphrodite Crouched to Bathe, both at the British Museum and the Vatican.
Buyer responsible for third party shipping. Call to make arrangements.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
Ex New York City private antiquities collection purchased in 1973 from Charles Dikran Kelekian.
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| Realized $22,800 |
