Ancient Terracotta Head of a Faun | Late Hellenistic–Early Roman | 1st Century BCE – 1st Century CE

Provenance & Ownership History
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Formerly held in a private collection in Columbia, Maryland, USA. Subsequently handled by Montgomery Auction in 2024, a Columbia-based auction house serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and specializing in fine art, antiques, and estate collections.

Private Toronto, ON Canada collection.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the fragment as a terracotta head of a faun dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE, based on its rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, prominent ear, swept-groove hair, and surviving traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment.

$400.00
$400.00
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Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun with softly modelled facial features, mineral deposits, and archaeological surface wear.
Rotating presentation of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, 1st century BCE–1st century CE, featuring a prominent ear, almond-shaped eyes, swept-groove hair, surviving white slip, reddish-brown pigment, and archaeological surface wear.
Late Hellenistic to Early Roman terracotta faun head fragment with swept-groove hair and weathered facial modelling.
Ancient terracotta faun head with rounded cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, and a prominent surviving ear.
Greco-Roman terracotta faun fragment featuring a short projecting nose, softly modelled jawline, and prominent ear.
Ancient terracotta head of a faun with rounded skull, archaeological surface wear, and irregular break at the neck.
Ancient Greco-Roman faun head fragment with surviving terracotta surface texture and traces of ancient mineral deposits.
Late Hellenistic terracotta faun head with mottled surface wear, surviving white slip, and fragmentary neck.
Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with reddish-brown pigment near the ear and weathered facial details.
Terracotta head of a mythological faun with almond-shaped eyes, subtly smiling mouth, and ancient surface abrasion.
Late Hellenistic to Early Roman faun head fragment with distinctive swept hair grooves and surviving pale white slip.
Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with stylized hair, almond-shaped eyes, small mouth, and archaeological deposits.
Video exploring the history and artistry of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic–Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Features delicately sculpted facial details, a pointed ear, textured hair, and surviving traces of original white slip and reddish-brown pigment, reflecting ancient Mediterranean mythology and craftsmanship.
  • Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun with softly modelled facial features, mineral deposits, and archaeological surface wear.
  • Rotating presentation of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, 1st century BCE–1st century CE, featuring a prominent ear, almond-shaped eyes, swept-groove hair, surviving white slip, reddish-brown pigment, and archaeological surface wear.
  • Late Hellenistic to Early Roman terracotta faun head fragment with swept-groove hair and weathered facial modelling.
  • Ancient terracotta faun head with rounded cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, and a prominent surviving ear.
  • Greco-Roman terracotta faun fragment featuring a short projecting nose, softly modelled jawline, and prominent ear.
  • Ancient terracotta head of a faun with rounded skull, archaeological surface wear, and irregular break at the neck.
  • Ancient Greco-Roman faun head fragment with surviving terracotta surface texture and traces of ancient mineral deposits.
  • Late Hellenistic terracotta faun head with mottled surface wear, surviving white slip, and fragmentary neck.
  • Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with reddish-brown pigment near the ear and weathered facial details.
  • Terracotta head of a mythological faun with almond-shaped eyes, subtly smiling mouth, and ancient surface abrasion.
  • Late Hellenistic to Early Roman faun head fragment with distinctive swept hair grooves and surviving pale white slip.
  • Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with stylized hair, almond-shaped eyes, small mouth, and archaeological deposits.
  • Video exploring the history and artistry of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic–Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Features delicately sculpted facial details, a pointed ear, textured hair, and surviving traces of original white slip and reddish-brown pigment, reflecting ancient Mediterranean mythology and craftsmanship.
Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun with softly modelled facial features, mineral deposits, and archaeological surface wear.
Rotating presentation of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, 1st century BCE–1st century CE, featuring a prominent ear, almond-shaped eyes, swept-groove hair, surviving white slip, reddish-brown pigment, and archaeological surface wear.
Late Hellenistic to Early Roman terracotta faun head fragment with swept-groove hair and weathered facial modelling.
Ancient terracotta faun head with rounded cheeks, almond-shaped eyes, and a prominent surviving ear.
Greco-Roman terracotta faun fragment featuring a short projecting nose, softly modelled jawline, and prominent ear.
Ancient terracotta head of a faun with rounded skull, archaeological surface wear, and irregular break at the neck.
Ancient Greco-Roman faun head fragment with surviving terracotta surface texture and traces of ancient mineral deposits.
Late Hellenistic terracotta faun head with mottled surface wear, surviving white slip, and fragmentary neck.
Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with reddish-brown pigment near the ear and weathered facial details.
Terracotta head of a mythological faun with almond-shaped eyes, subtly smiling mouth, and ancient surface abrasion.
Late Hellenistic to Early Roman faun head fragment with distinctive swept hair grooves and surviving pale white slip.
Ancient Greco-Roman terracotta faun head with stylized hair, almond-shaped eyes, small mouth, and archaeological deposits.
Video exploring the history and artistry of an ancient Greco-Roman terracotta head of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic–Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE. Features delicately sculpted facial details, a pointed ear, textured hair, and surviving traces of original white slip and reddish-brown pigment, reflecting ancient Mediterranean mythology and craftsmanship.
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Ancient Terracotta Head of a Faun | Late Hellenistic–Early Roman | 1st Century BCE – 1st Century CE

Description
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Historical Context & Origin

Region: Greco-Roman Mediterranean World
Material: Terracotta with traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment
Period: Late Hellenistic to Early Roman Period, 1st Century BCE–1st Century CE

Description

This ancient terracotta fragment represents the head of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, approximately the 1st century BCE–1st century CE.

The small head has a rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, short nose, small mouth, and a subtle smile. A prominent ear survives on the right side, contributing to the figure's identification as a faun. The hair is rendered with distinctive swept incised grooves, giving definition and movement to the otherwise softly modelled form.

Traces of the original white slip and reddish-brown pigment remain visible across portions of the surface, providing evidence of the figure's original painted appearance. Mineral deposits and age-related wear are present throughout.

The head is broken irregularly at the neck, indicating that it originally belonged to a larger terracotta figure.

Features

- Rounded skull and softly modelled face

- Almond-shaped eyes

- Short nose and subtly smiling mouth

- Prominent surviving ear

- Hair detailed with swept grooves

- Traces of ancient white slip

- Surviving reddish-brown pigment

- Archaeological mineral deposits

- Mounted on a modern display stand

Cultural Significance

Fauns and related woodland figures belonged to the broader world of Greco-Roman mythology and were commonly associated with nature, pastoral settings, music, revelry, and the followers of Dionysus or Bacchus.

Terracotta provided an accessible medium for producing mythological and decorative figures throughout the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The expressive features, prominent ear, and stylized hair of this fragment support its identification as a faun rather than simply an idealized youthful male.

Condition

Ancient fragmentary condition with an irregular break at the neck. Surface wear, mineral deposits, abrasions, and age-related softening of the modelling are present throughout. Traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment survive in places. The principal facial features remain clearly recognizable.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 1.7 in
Width: 1.2 in

Age (Approximate)

1,900–2,100 years old

Provenance

Formerly held in a private collection in Columbia, Maryland, USA. Subsequently handled by Montgomery Auction in 2024, a Columbia-based auction house serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and specializing in fine art, antiques, and estate collections.

Private Toronto, ON Canada collection.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the fragment as a terracotta head of a faun dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE, based on its rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, prominent ear, swept-groove hair, and surviving traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment.

Learn More

Explore a related Greco-Roman terracotta head of a young satyr or Pan in the collection of the British Museum

Browse our collection of Roman & Greek Artifacts & Ancient Relics

Description

Historical Context & Origin

Region: Greco-Roman Mediterranean World
Material: Terracotta with traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment
Period: Late Hellenistic to Early Roman Period, 1st Century BCE–1st Century CE

Description

This ancient terracotta fragment represents the head of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, approximately the 1st century BCE–1st century CE.

The small head has a rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, short nose, small mouth, and a subtle smile. A prominent ear survives on the right side, contributing to the figure's identification as a faun. The hair is rendered with distinctive swept incised grooves, giving definition and movement to the otherwise softly modelled form.

Traces of the original white slip and reddish-brown pigment remain visible across portions of the surface, providing evidence of the figure's original painted appearance. Mineral deposits and age-related wear are present throughout.

The head is broken irregularly at the neck, indicating that it originally belonged to a larger terracotta figure.

Features

- Rounded skull and softly modelled face

- Almond-shaped eyes

- Short nose and subtly smiling mouth

- Prominent surviving ear

- Hair detailed with swept grooves

- Traces of ancient white slip

- Surviving reddish-brown pigment

- Archaeological mineral deposits

- Mounted on a modern display stand

Cultural Significance

Fauns and related woodland figures belonged to the broader world of Greco-Roman mythology and were commonly associated with nature, pastoral settings, music, revelry, and the followers of Dionysus or Bacchus.

Terracotta provided an accessible medium for producing mythological and decorative figures throughout the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The expressive features, prominent ear, and stylized hair of this fragment support its identification as a faun rather than simply an idealized youthful male.

Condition

Ancient fragmentary condition with an irregular break at the neck. Surface wear, mineral deposits, abrasions, and age-related softening of the modelling are present throughout. Traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment survive in places. The principal facial features remain clearly recognizable.

Dimensions (Approximate)

Height: 1.7 in
Width: 1.2 in

Age (Approximate)

1,900–2,100 years old

Provenance

Formerly held in a private collection in Columbia, Maryland, USA. Subsequently handled by Montgomery Auction in 2024, a Columbia-based auction house serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and specializing in fine art, antiques, and estate collections.

Private Toronto, ON Canada collection.

Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the fragment as a terracotta head of a faun dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE, based on its rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, prominent ear, swept-groove hair, and surviving traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment.

Learn More

Explore a related Greco-Roman terracotta head of a young satyr or Pan in the collection of the British Museum

Browse our collection of Roman & Greek Artifacts & Ancient Relics

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