Ancient Roman Female Bust & Mesopotamian Bovine Protome | Two Terracotta Artifacts | Circa 3rd Millennium BCE–2nd Century CE

Historique de provenance et de propriété
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Formerly part of a private collection in Sarasota Beach, Florida, USA. Subsequently handled by Akiba Galleries, Dania Beach, Florida, USA.  Akiba Galleries is an established, family-owned auction house specializing in fine art, antiques, historical artifacts, and collectible objects from around the world. Known for its diverse and carefully curated auctions, the gallery serves an international clientele of collectors, dealers, and institutions.

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Ancient Roman terracotta female head with elaborate curled coiffure alongside an Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome.
360-degree rotating view of two ancient terracotta artifacts: a Roman female bust featuring an elaborate Flavian-style curled hairstyle and detailed facial features, alongside a Mesopotamian bovine protome depicting a stylized bull's head and neck. Both fragments display weathered surfaces, age-related wear, and distinctive craftsmanship, presented on individual clear acrylic display stands.
Pair of ancient terracotta fragments featuring a Roman Imperial female head and Mesopotamian animal sculpture on separate display stands.
Ancient Roman female protome with a high rounded coiffure decorated with circular curls, softly modelled face, and reddish-buff terracotta surface.
Roman Imperial terracotta female head, circa 70–120 CE, featuring an elaborate Flavian-inspired hairstyle and finely modelled facial features.
Roman terracotta female head fragment displaying a prominent nose, defined lips, and distinctive raised hairstyle associated with Imperial portraiture.
Ancient Roman female bust fragment exhibiting closely spaced circular hair impressions, surface erosion, and partially preserved neck and shoulder details.
Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome, circa 3000–2000 BCE, featuring an elongated muzzle, raised eye areas, and stylized animal features.
Ancient Mesopotamian terracotta animal head with projecting ears, prominent muzzle, and weathered grey-brown ceramic surface.
Mesopotamian bovine head fragment displaying simplified anatomical modelling, dark surface deposits, and an irregular broken neck.
Ancient Near Eastern terracotta bovine protome featuring rounded facial contours, prominent eye details, and mineral-like surface encrustations.
Roman female terracotta head with elaborate coiffure and Mesopotamian bovine fragment representing two distinct ancient sculptural traditions.
Collection of two ancient terracotta sculptures featuring a Roman Imperial female portrait fragment and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian animal head.
  • Ancient Roman terracotta female head with elaborate curled coiffure alongside an Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome.
  • 360-degree rotating view of two ancient terracotta artifacts: a Roman female bust featuring an elaborate Flavian-style curled hairstyle and detailed facial features, alongside a Mesopotamian bovine protome depicting a stylized bull's head and neck. Both fragments display weathered surfaces, age-related wear, and distinctive craftsmanship, presented on individual clear acrylic display stands.
  • Pair of ancient terracotta fragments featuring a Roman Imperial female head and Mesopotamian animal sculpture on separate display stands.
  • Ancient Roman female protome with a high rounded coiffure decorated with circular curls, softly modelled face, and reddish-buff terracotta surface.
  • Roman Imperial terracotta female head, circa 70–120 CE, featuring an elaborate Flavian-inspired hairstyle and finely modelled facial features.
  • Roman terracotta female head fragment displaying a prominent nose, defined lips, and distinctive raised hairstyle associated with Imperial portraiture.
  • Ancient Roman female bust fragment exhibiting closely spaced circular hair impressions, surface erosion, and partially preserved neck and shoulder details.
  • Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome, circa 3000–2000 BCE, featuring an elongated muzzle, raised eye areas, and stylized animal features.
  • Ancient Mesopotamian terracotta animal head with projecting ears, prominent muzzle, and weathered grey-brown ceramic surface.
  • Mesopotamian bovine head fragment displaying simplified anatomical modelling, dark surface deposits, and an irregular broken neck.
  • Ancient Near Eastern terracotta bovine protome featuring rounded facial contours, prominent eye details, and mineral-like surface encrustations.
  • Roman female terracotta head with elaborate coiffure and Mesopotamian bovine fragment representing two distinct ancient sculptural traditions.
  • Collection of two ancient terracotta sculptures featuring a Roman Imperial female portrait fragment and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian animal head.
Ancient Roman terracotta female head with elaborate curled coiffure alongside an Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome.
360-degree rotating view of two ancient terracotta artifacts: a Roman female bust featuring an elaborate Flavian-style curled hairstyle and detailed facial features, alongside a Mesopotamian bovine protome depicting a stylized bull's head and neck. Both fragments display weathered surfaces, age-related wear, and distinctive craftsmanship, presented on individual clear acrylic display stands.
Pair of ancient terracotta fragments featuring a Roman Imperial female head and Mesopotamian animal sculpture on separate display stands.
Ancient Roman female protome with a high rounded coiffure decorated with circular curls, softly modelled face, and reddish-buff terracotta surface.
Roman Imperial terracotta female head, circa 70–120 CE, featuring an elaborate Flavian-inspired hairstyle and finely modelled facial features.
Roman terracotta female head fragment displaying a prominent nose, defined lips, and distinctive raised hairstyle associated with Imperial portraiture.
Ancient Roman female bust fragment exhibiting closely spaced circular hair impressions, surface erosion, and partially preserved neck and shoulder details.
Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian bovine protome, circa 3000–2000 BCE, featuring an elongated muzzle, raised eye areas, and stylized animal features.
Ancient Mesopotamian terracotta animal head with projecting ears, prominent muzzle, and weathered grey-brown ceramic surface.
Mesopotamian bovine head fragment displaying simplified anatomical modelling, dark surface deposits, and an irregular broken neck.
Ancient Near Eastern terracotta bovine protome featuring rounded facial contours, prominent eye details, and mineral-like surface encrustations.
Roman female terracotta head with elaborate coiffure and Mesopotamian bovine fragment representing two distinct ancient sculptural traditions.
Collection of two ancient terracotta sculptures featuring a Roman Imperial female portrait fragment and Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian animal head.
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Ancient Roman Female Bust & Mesopotamian Bovine Protome | Two Terracotta Artifacts | Circa 3rd Millennium BCE–2nd Century CE

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Roman Mediterranean & Ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, by auction attribution)
Material: Terracotta (Fired Earthenware Clay)
Period: Early Bronze Age, circa 3000–2000 BCE (Bovine Protome); Roman Imperial Period, circa 70–120 CE (Female Head), by auction attribution

Description

Roman Imperial Terracotta Female Head — Circa 70–120 CE

An attractive ancient terracotta female head fragment featuring carefully modelled facial features and an elaborate, high-standing coiffure characteristic of Roman-period female portraiture.

The most distinctive feature is the large, rounded arrangement rising above the forehead, decorated with numerous closely spaced circular impressions. This densely textured treatment closely resembles the elaborate curled hairstyles associated with the Flavian and early Trajanic periods of the Roman Empire.

The figure possesses a softly modelled oval face, prominent nose, defined lips, and a composed, forward-facing expression. The surrounding terracotta extends into a partially preserved plaque-like form, with subtle modelling around the neck and shoulders.

The reverse is comparatively smooth and undecorated, reflecting the frontal emphasis of the surviving composition.

The warm reddish-buff terracotta exhibits scattered surface wear, mineral-like deposits, and minor areas of erosion. Its distinctive coiffure and expressive facial modelling make the fragment an engaging example of ancient female portrait imagery.

Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian Bovine Protome — Circa 3000–2000 BCE

A compact, hand-modelled terracotta fragment depicting a stylized animal head and upper neck, catalogued as a bovine protome and attributed to ancient Mesopotamia.

The animal features an elongated muzzle, prominently defined eye areas, and simplified lateral projections corresponding to the ears or horn bases. The extended neck forms a narrow vertical structure terminating in an irregular, broken lower edge.

The modelling emphasizes the animal's distinctive facial characteristics through simplified anatomical forms, reflecting the stylized treatment found in ancient Near Eastern animal sculpture.

The weathered surface displays earthy grey-brown coloration, patches of darker discoloration, scattered mineral-like deposits, and substantial surface wear. These characteristics contribute to the fragment's archaeological appearance.

The surviving head and neck retain a recognizable zoomorphic form, while the broken lower section indicates separation from a larger ceramic composition. The original function remains undocumented.

Features

- Roman female head with elaborate Flavian-inspired coiffure

- Distinctive circular impressions forming a high, rounded hairstyle

- Carefully modelled facial features and partially preserved neck and shoulder details

- Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian animal head attributed as a bovine protome

- Hand-modelled elongated muzzle and prominent eye areas

- Stylized anatomical detailing and projecting ears or horn bases

- Contrasting reddish-buff and earthy grey-brown terracotta surfaces

- Visible surface weathering, mineral-like deposits, and age-related wear

- Separate modern museum-style display stands

- Two distinct artistic traditions represented in a single collection

Cultural Significance

Roman Female Portraiture

During the Roman Imperial period, female hairstyles became important expressions of fashion, social identity, and cultural influence. Under the Flavian dynasty (69–96 CE), elaborate arrangements of tightly curled hair became fashionable among women of the imperial household and were subsequently adopted throughout Roman society.

These distinctive coiffures became important chronological indicators in Roman portrait sculpture, appearing in marble busts, funerary monuments, and smaller decorative representations. The female fragment reflects this recognizable artistic tradition, characterized by elevated curls and carefully arranged facial modelling.

Mesopotamian Bovine Symbolism

Cattle held an important position in ancient Mesopotamian civilization, contributing to agriculture, transportation, and the economic development of early urban settlements. Bulls also carried symbolic associations with strength, fertility, and authority, appearing in religious imagery, architectural decoration, ceremonial objects, and animal sculpture.

Among the most celebrated examples of Mesopotamian bovine imagery are the bull-headed lyres discovered at the Royal Cemetery of Ur, dating to the Early Dynastic period. These remarkable objects illustrate the enduring importance of cattle symbolism in the artistic and religious traditions of ancient Mesopotamia.

The animal fragment reflects the broader tradition of representing recognizable animals through simplified sculptural forms. Together, these two terracotta fragments offer a compelling comparison between the portrait traditions of Imperial Rome and the animal imagery of the ancient Near East.

Condition

Both artifacts survive as partial terracotta fragments with visible surface wear and age-related irregularities.

Roman Female Head: Preserves its recognizable facial features and distinctive decorated coiffure. Surface wear, fine cracking, scattered discoloration, minor losses, and irregularities along the lower and lateral edges are visible.

Mesopotamian Bovine Protome: Displays substantial surface weathering, scattered encrustations, darkened areas around the muzzle and eyes, and an irregular broken lower section. The animal's head and upper neck remain recognizable.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Roman Female Head:
Height: 2.75 in
Depth: 1.75 in

Mesopotamian Bovine Protome:
Height: 2.75 in
Depth: 1.5 in

Age (Approximate)

Roman Female Head: 1,900–1,950 years old
Mesopotamian Bovine Protome: 4,000–5,000 years old

Provenance

Formerly part of a private collection in Sarasota Beach, Florida, USA. Subsequently handled by Akiba Galleries, Dania Beach, Florida, USA. Akiba Galleries is an established, family-owned auction house specializing in fine art, antiques, historical artifacts, and collectible objects from around the world. Known for its diverse and carefully curated auctions, the gallery serves an international clientele of collectors, dealers, and institutions.

Learn More

Discover the elaborate hairstyles of Roman Imperial women through the Funerary Altar of Cominia Tyche at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Explore Our Collection of Ancient Statues, Figures & Carvings

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Roman Mediterranean & Ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq, by auction attribution)
Material: Terracotta (Fired Earthenware Clay)
Period: Early Bronze Age, circa 3000–2000 BCE (Bovine Protome); Roman Imperial Period, circa 70–120 CE (Female Head), by auction attribution

Description

Roman Imperial Terracotta Female Head — Circa 70–120 CE

An attractive ancient terracotta female head fragment featuring carefully modelled facial features and an elaborate, high-standing coiffure characteristic of Roman-period female portraiture.

The most distinctive feature is the large, rounded arrangement rising above the forehead, decorated with numerous closely spaced circular impressions. This densely textured treatment closely resembles the elaborate curled hairstyles associated with the Flavian and early Trajanic periods of the Roman Empire.

The figure possesses a softly modelled oval face, prominent nose, defined lips, and a composed, forward-facing expression. The surrounding terracotta extends into a partially preserved plaque-like form, with subtle modelling around the neck and shoulders.

The reverse is comparatively smooth and undecorated, reflecting the frontal emphasis of the surviving composition.

The warm reddish-buff terracotta exhibits scattered surface wear, mineral-like deposits, and minor areas of erosion. Its distinctive coiffure and expressive facial modelling make the fragment an engaging example of ancient female portrait imagery.

Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian Bovine Protome — Circa 3000–2000 BCE

A compact, hand-modelled terracotta fragment depicting a stylized animal head and upper neck, catalogued as a bovine protome and attributed to ancient Mesopotamia.

The animal features an elongated muzzle, prominently defined eye areas, and simplified lateral projections corresponding to the ears or horn bases. The extended neck forms a narrow vertical structure terminating in an irregular, broken lower edge.

The modelling emphasizes the animal's distinctive facial characteristics through simplified anatomical forms, reflecting the stylized treatment found in ancient Near Eastern animal sculpture.

The weathered surface displays earthy grey-brown coloration, patches of darker discoloration, scattered mineral-like deposits, and substantial surface wear. These characteristics contribute to the fragment's archaeological appearance.

The surviving head and neck retain a recognizable zoomorphic form, while the broken lower section indicates separation from a larger ceramic composition. The original function remains undocumented.

Features

- Roman female head with elaborate Flavian-inspired coiffure

- Distinctive circular impressions forming a high, rounded hairstyle

- Carefully modelled facial features and partially preserved neck and shoulder details

- Early Bronze Age Mesopotamian animal head attributed as a bovine protome

- Hand-modelled elongated muzzle and prominent eye areas

- Stylized anatomical detailing and projecting ears or horn bases

- Contrasting reddish-buff and earthy grey-brown terracotta surfaces

- Visible surface weathering, mineral-like deposits, and age-related wear

- Separate modern museum-style display stands

- Two distinct artistic traditions represented in a single collection

Cultural Significance

Roman Female Portraiture

During the Roman Imperial period, female hairstyles became important expressions of fashion, social identity, and cultural influence. Under the Flavian dynasty (69–96 CE), elaborate arrangements of tightly curled hair became fashionable among women of the imperial household and were subsequently adopted throughout Roman society.

These distinctive coiffures became important chronological indicators in Roman portrait sculpture, appearing in marble busts, funerary monuments, and smaller decorative representations. The female fragment reflects this recognizable artistic tradition, characterized by elevated curls and carefully arranged facial modelling.

Mesopotamian Bovine Symbolism

Cattle held an important position in ancient Mesopotamian civilization, contributing to agriculture, transportation, and the economic development of early urban settlements. Bulls also carried symbolic associations with strength, fertility, and authority, appearing in religious imagery, architectural decoration, ceremonial objects, and animal sculpture.

Among the most celebrated examples of Mesopotamian bovine imagery are the bull-headed lyres discovered at the Royal Cemetery of Ur, dating to the Early Dynastic period. These remarkable objects illustrate the enduring importance of cattle symbolism in the artistic and religious traditions of ancient Mesopotamia.

The animal fragment reflects the broader tradition of representing recognizable animals through simplified sculptural forms. Together, these two terracotta fragments offer a compelling comparison between the portrait traditions of Imperial Rome and the animal imagery of the ancient Near East.

Condition

Both artifacts survive as partial terracotta fragments with visible surface wear and age-related irregularities.

Roman Female Head: Preserves its recognizable facial features and distinctive decorated coiffure. Surface wear, fine cracking, scattered discoloration, minor losses, and irregularities along the lower and lateral edges are visible.

Mesopotamian Bovine Protome: Displays substantial surface weathering, scattered encrustations, darkened areas around the muzzle and eyes, and an irregular broken lower section. The animal's head and upper neck remain recognizable.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Roman Female Head:
Height: 2.75 in
Depth: 1.75 in

Mesopotamian Bovine Protome:
Height: 2.75 in
Depth: 1.5 in

Age (Approximate)

Roman Female Head: 1,900–1,950 years old
Mesopotamian Bovine Protome: 4,000–5,000 years old

Provenance

Formerly part of a private collection in Sarasota Beach, Florida, USA. Subsequently handled by Akiba Galleries, Dania Beach, Florida, USA. Akiba Galleries is an established, family-owned auction house specializing in fine art, antiques, historical artifacts, and collectible objects from around the world. Known for its diverse and carefully curated auctions, the gallery serves an international clientele of collectors, dealers, and institutions.

Learn More

Discover the elaborate hairstyles of Roman Imperial women through the Funerary Altar of Cominia Tyche at The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Explore Our Collection of Ancient Statues, Figures & Carvings

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