A Marble Portrait Bust of a Man, Roman Imperial, Antonine, 2nd Half of the 2nd Century A.D.

his head turned to his left, his face with short unruly beard, mustache, and deep-set eyes with incised irises and recessed pupils under incised eyebrows, his hair falling in short dense overlapping curls over the forehead and temples; the proper left half of the bust, the chin, and, nose restored in the 18th Century; mounted on an 18th century white marble socle and plinth.

Danish family collection, Copenhagen, since the 1950s or earlier

Generally very good for an object of this kind. As shown and described. Marble restorations as described in the catalogue. The back of the crown of the head also restored in marble. Small patch of painted plaster restoration on proper right eyebrow, as well as on cheek next to mustache. Small rectangular section of back of ancient part of bust was once restored in marble along edge. Note minor chips and abrasions to hair and elsewhere. Surfaces seem to retain their ancient polish underneath encrusted root marks. Small patch on lower proper left cheek and end of moustache. Note large chip to later socle and lesser chip to scroll of nameplate.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

For another Antonine portrait head with related treatment of the hair see J. Feifer, The Ince Blundell Collections of Ancient Sculpture, Vol. 1, The Portraits, part 2, The Male Portraits, Liverpool, 1998, no. 32, pl. 63.