Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art Part I
Ancient Sculpture and Works of Art Part I
Property from the Estate of Louis Maury, Switzerland
A Marble Head of the Goddess Isis, Roman Imperial, 2nd Century A.D., probably from Egypt
Auction Closed
December 7, 04:32 PM GMT
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Property from the Estate of Louis Maury, Switzerland
A Marble Head of the Goddess Isis
Roman Imperial, 2nd Century A.D., probably from Egypt
turned slightly to her right, with parted lips, almond-shaped eyes each with incised line on the lower lid, and smooth brow, her deeply drilled hair bound in a chignon and diadem, long tresses escaping over the ears, a square mortise above the forehead for insertion of the crown of the goddess.
Height 28.9 cm
George Holden Tinkham, Boston and Cramerton, North Carolina, representative from Boston to the U.S. Congress, 1915-1943
American private collection (Sotheby's, New York, June 6th, 2006, no. 30, illus.)
acquired by the present owner at the above sale
Published
Sotheby's, New York, June 18th, 1991, no. 98, illus.
A head of Isis with similar hairstyle is in the Louvre: https://collections.louvre.fr/ark:/53355/cl010250299
Congressman George Holden Tinkham traveled extensively in Europe, Africa, and Asia, and throughout his journeys collected works of art, many of which he gave to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. His political skills were legendary, and at one time he received both the Democratic and Republican nominations for his congressional seat. Among the numerous honors awarded him during his long career, which included ten years on the Foreign Affairs Committee, was the decoration in 1920 of Cavaliere della Corona d'Italia by the King of Italy. His individualistic, generous, and often tumultuous life is summarized by John T. Galvin, "The Nimrod of Mid-Africa and Lion of the House," Harvard Magazine, 1981, pp. 49-52.