ROMAN MARBLE HEAD OF THE SMALL HERCULANEUM WOMAN, CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D. |

her youthful oval face with parted lips and finely carved eyes, her wavy hair arranged in a melon coiffure bound in a flat circular chignon at the back, a curl escaping before each ear; no restorations.

art market, France, between 1911 and 1951, based on the tailored varnished wood socle stamped Kichizo Inagaki (1876-1951), Paris 
Marcel Heim, rue de Varennes, Paris
Collection Georges Renand, Paris (acquired from the above on October 24th 1952)
then by descent to the current owners

Nose missing, small chips and scratches overall, larger chips on proper left side of hair in front. Original surface mostly preserved under thin layer of incrustation and root-marks.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present head is a Roman Imperial copy of the head of a long lost Greek original, a late 4th Century B.C draped statue of a woman. The statuary type, known as the "Small Herculaneum Woman" is named after a complete Roman copy found in Herculaneum and now in Dresden (K. Knoll and C. Vorster, eds., Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden. Katalog der antiken Bildwerke, vol. 3, 2013, pp. 176ff., no. 34: http://arachne.uni-koeln.de/item/objekt/5308).