{"product_id":"ancient-greek-hellenistic-terracotta-bust-3rd-century-bce","title":"Ancient Greek Mould-Made Terracotta Bust | Hellenistic Period | 3rd Century BCE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ancient Greece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mould-made terracotta with pale grey-beige surface, possibly slip or mineral accretion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Hellenistic Period, 3rd Century BCE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis ancient Greek \u003c\/span\u003emould-made terracotta bust dates to the Hellenistic period, 3rd century BCE and preserves the head, upper chest, and shoulders of a human figure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe head is characterized by an oval face, straight nose, closed mouth, and softly modelled brows\u003cspan\u003e. A veil or mantle covers the head and falls along the sides, framing the face and contributing to the restrained, formal appearance of the figure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA visible join is present at the neck, indicating the construction of the bust from separately formed components. The surface has a pale grey-beige appearance that may represent surviving ancient slip, mineral accretion, or a combination of both.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough the modelling has been softened through age and archaeological wear, the principal facial features remain clearly legible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePreserves head, upper chest, and shoulders\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOval facial form\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStraight nose and closed mouth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSoftly modelled brows\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVeil or mantle falling along the sides of the head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVisible construction join at the neck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePale grey-beige surface, possibly ancient slip or mineral accretion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorn but recognizable facial modelling\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMounted on a modern display base\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMould-made terracotta figures were widely produced throughout the Greek world during the Hellenistic period. The use of moulds allowed workshops to create repeated figural types while still permitting variation in finishing, surface treatment, and detail.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBusts and partial figures could depict mortals, idealized individuals, or divine subjects, although the surviving features of this example do not allow a more specific identification with certainty. Its veiled or mantled head and restrained facial treatment are consistent with the visual language of Hellenistic terracotta sculpture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAncient archaeological condition with substantial age-related wear, abrasion, mineral deposits, surface discoloration, and softening of the original moulded detail. The face remains recognizable despite the worn surface. A \u003c\/span\u003ejoin is visible at the neck\u003cspan\u003e, and minor losses and irregularities are present throughout.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAreas of pale grey-beige surface material may represent surviving slip, mineral accretion, or both. Mounted on a modern black display base.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e4 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDepth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApproximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2,200–2,300 years old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly held in a private collection in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the object as a Greek mould-made terracotta bust dating to the Hellenistic period, 3rd century BCE, based on its oval facial form, straight nose, closed mouth, softly modelled brows, veiled or mantled head, and visible construction join at the neck. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDiscover a documented Greek mold-made, hollow and backless terracotta protome at \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/245530\" title=\"Terracotta Female Protome – The Metropolitan Museum of Art\"\u003eThe Metropolitan Museum of Art\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Explore Roman \u0026amp; Greek Artifacts \u0026amp; Ancient Relics at Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Roman \u0026amp; Greek Artifacts \u0026amp; Ancient Relics\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56196214554946,"sku":null,"price":1000.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Ancient-Greek-Terracotta-Votive-Protome-Bust-2130.jpg?v=1791241131","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/fr\/products\/ancient-greek-hellenistic-terracotta-bust-3rd-century-bce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}