Cypriot Votive Limestone Head of a Young Man

Cypriot Votive Limestone Head of a Young Man
6th-4th century B.C. Modelled in the round with soft youthful features, short beard, small mouth and large lentoid eyes, tousled hair with a diadem above the brow; socket to the top of the head and remains of a spur to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. similar item in the British Museum, London, under accession no.643.9, for type in terracotta; cf. Spiteris, T., The Art of Cyprus, London, 1970, pp.178-182, fig. p.173; Karageorghis, V., Ancient Cyprus, 7000 years of art & archaeology, London, 1981, figs.123-126; Karageorghis, V., Cipro, Crocevia del Mondo Mediterraneo orientale 1600-500 a.C., Milano, 2002, figs.399-401. 3.86 kg total, 26.5 cm high including stand (10 1/2 in.).

Joseph Klein collection, formed in New York 1941-1980, thence by descent.Acquired from Bonhams, London, 24 October 2012, no.2.From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages.Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D?Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12002-212101.

Votive sculptures were the commonest form of Cypriot sculptures of the period. They were erected within the precincts of temples or covered sanctuaries, around the altar at which the god was worshipped. Thus, on Cyprus, the statuary was conceived as an ex-voto, an image expressing the desire of the believer to enter into intimate communion with and reside under the eternal protection of the gods. [No Reserve]