{"product_id":"ancient-terracotta-head-faun-1st-century-bce-1st-century-ce","title":"Ancient Terracotta Head of a Faun | Late Hellenistic–Early Roman | 1st Century BCE – 1st Century CE","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 Greco-Roman Mediterranean World\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Terracotta with traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Late Hellenistic to Early Roman Period, 1st Century BCE–1st Century CE\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 terracotta fragment represents the \u003c\/span\u003ehead of a faun, dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, approximately the 1st century BCE–1st century CE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraces of the original white slip and reddish-brown pigment\u003cspan\u003e 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe head is broken irregularly at the neck, indicating that it originally belonged to a larger terracotta figure.\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\u003eRounded skull and softly modelled face\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlmond-shaped eyes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShort nose and subtly smiling mouth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProminent surviving ear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHair detailed with swept grooves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTraces of ancient white slip\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurviving reddish-brown pigment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArchaeological mineral deposits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMounted on a modern display stand\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\u003eFauns 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTerracotta 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.\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 fragmentary condition with an \u003c\/span\u003eirregular break at the neck\u003cspan\u003e. 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.\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\u003e1.7 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1.2 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\u003e1,900–2,100 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrivate Toronto, ON Canada collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by \u003cspan class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eLuca Salvaggio\u003c\/span\u003e, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean material. He holds a \u003cspan class=\"font-semibold\"\u003ePostgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA)\u003c\/span\u003e and is \u003cspan class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eaccredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC)\u003c\/span\u003e. Salvaggio identified the fragment as a \u003cspan class=\"font-semibold\"\u003eterracotta head of a faun dating to the Late Hellenistic to Early Roman period, circa 1st century BCE–1st century CE\u003c\/span\u003e, based on its rounded skull, almond-shaped eyes, prominent ear, swept-groove hair, and surviving traces of white slip and reddish-brown pigment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/smarthistory.org\/reframing-art-history\/pottery-body-gods-ancient-greece-early\/\" title=\"Pottery, the Body \u0026amp; the Gods in Ancient Greece — Smarthistory\"\u003eWorld of Greco-Roman Pottery\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Greek \u0026amp; Roman Artifacts Collection – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Greek and Roman Artifacts and Antiquities\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic and Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51185528045890,"sku":"GRC-RMN-PTT-HD","price":400.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Ancient-Hellenistic-Roman-Terracotta-Youth-He-2978.jpg?v=1791246330","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/ancient-terracotta-head-faun-1st-century-bce-1st-century-ce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}