Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century CE. A graceful bust depicting Aphrodite (Roman Venus), the goddess of love and romance, hand-carved from crystalline marble with an elegant presentation. Head tilted to the right, she presents with almond eyes and smooth brow lines, a slender nose, full lips with indented corners, and nicely-formed cheeks. Atop her head is an attractive coiffure which is parted in the center and swept back to a bound chignon on the nape of her neck. Twenty-four shallow holes are drilled along the top of her head and one beneath her chignon, suggesting this bust was adorned with a golden diadem at one time. This votive bust may have been placed in a small household altar, or given as an offering at a temple dedicated to the goddess. Custom metal display stand included. Size: 2.5" W x 5.25" H (6.4 cm x 13.3 cm); 7.75" H (19.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Aphrodite (Venus in the Roman pantheon) has inspired countless depictions throughout art history, among the most famous, Attic sculptor Praxiteles's "Aphrodite of Knidos" (ca. 360 to 330 BCE), the equally famous "Lely's Venus" (ca. 100 to 199 CE), Alexandros of Antioch's "Venus de Milo" ( 130 to 100 BCE), the Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli's masterful painting "Birth of Venus" (1484-86), and Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens' equally masterful "Judgement of Paris" (ca. 1636) painting.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Janet Zakos collection, Switzerland, acquired in the 1970s

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#138917

Original diadem missing. Brown material suggests ancient repair. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, small losses to neck line and head, fading to finer details particularly on face, and some light yellowing to marble. Light earthen deposits throughout.