Iberian votive figure of a priestess, c.5th-4th century BC
Bronze
Height: 8.7cm
11837
Copyright The Artist
£ 2,800
The priestess wears a tall headdress over straight hair that is worn above the shoulders, large circular earrings and an ankle-length v-neck garment. Her arms are held straight against her...
The priestess wears a tall headdress over straight hair that is worn above the shoulders, large circular earrings and an ankle-length v-neck garment. Her arms are held straight against her sides, fingers pressed against the outside of her thighs, her feet bare and set on an integral rectangular base. The facial features of softly rendered, and show a wide mouth with thin lips, a relatively wide nose and large, almond shaped eyes. Intact, the surface with a green patina, some pitting to the surface, particularly the chin.
Provenance
Part of a group of 200 bronze ex-votos discovered in a cave during mining excavations in the area of Despeñaperros (St Jean) in south-east Spain during the first half of the 20th century, and taken from Spain shortly afterwards.Private collection, Belgium; sold through the below
A Private Belgian Collection of Iberian Bronze Ex-Votos; Christie's, London, 10th December 1981
From Various Sources; Christie's, London, 10th December 1986, lot 50
Private collection, Melbourne, Australia; acquired from the above
Literature
Compare Francisco Alvarez-Ossorio, Catalogo de los Exvotos de Bronce, Ibéricos (Madrid, 1941), pl.XV, no.85Publications
Christie's, London, Fine Antiquities, 10th December 1981, lot 26Christie's, London, Fine Antiquities, 10th December 1986, lot 50
