Hi, i really really need help identifying an old statue head

reply to post by dayve


haha.
i payed 50 swe kronor for it and that would be somewere around 7 bucks so that would almost an 150% profit

The facial features had me thinking Aztec or Mayan, as did the green color. However, in your last picture which shows more earthen tones and a more direct, rather than profile picture leads me to think minoan as well. Certainly there are some reputable museums in our city which can point you in the right direction. Sounds like an exciting investigation to me. Have fun with it!

Now that I look at it again, what appears to be braided hair wrapped around the head is indicative of Minoan culture. I guess I understand your local museum's position, but think it counter productive. Try contacting someone at the field museum of natural history in Chicago. They are knowledgable, and receptive. Good luck.

reply to post by Idahomie


Hi.
thank you so much for your input.
i would love for it to be minoan, i mean how cool is that
i have sent a request to the museum in chicago you mentioned.
thank you again for the tip.
/jimmy

From the information you gave i'd start by comparing it with Buddah figures from Afghanistan.



Afghan Buddah

at first i look at it. it look like mayan to me.

reply to post by Kantzveldt


hello there.
ive taken your advice and searched for budda artifacts in afghanistan, and there is one picture that bears some resemblance to my head, not so much so the case is closed though.
the head has traces of paint on it, the ear and the headdress has red paint left and the hair has wavy black lines, i dont suppose you know where and when statues were painted like that.
thanks again.
/jimmy

reply to post by jisujaaljo

it really looks mayan to me as well , and that color you are talking about is called patina . the Chicago idea is most likely your best bet but if not try this www.sadighgallery.com... you might even be able to get an idea of what it is worth from them . good luck ! oh and nice find by the way , awesome !

reply to post by jisujaaljo




It would probably represent a Devata, executed in Greco-Buddhist style, from somewhere such as Hadda.



www.iranicaonline.org...


Hadda style




lh6.googleusercontent.com...


Was maybe placed in a situ similar to these.

farm7.static.flickr.com...


Size wise there are plenty of comparatives, and these would have been painted, is your example made of terracotta...?


Size example

From the side-shot, I'd have to agree with some form of South American.

1. Side profile actually LOOKS like the 1 South American Indian I know.
2. Reminded me of many of the pictures from the Inca Stones.
3. If the guy's nose in the following pic wasn't so curled, it would be extremely similar:

reply to post by mynamehere


hey, thanks for the link.
ive been going through some of it and i cant find anything that looks like it.
it will be nice if i get a responce from chicago.
thanks
/jimmy

reply to post by Kantzveldt


you have no clue how much i love you right now, whoever you are.

looks like you are correct, there are many commons between the flicker ones and the one i have.
the mouth, nose, the eyebrow line that extends perfectly in to the nose and many headdresses, all of a different kind but still headdresses, the size and that most have been part of a relief kind of sculpture.
and the least eroded eye on my sculpture shows traces of an eyelid.

im not closing the book completley but it will take pretty much to convince me of a different origin than afghanistan/pakistan during the greco buddistic era.
and if that is correct it is from the time between 305 bce and 185 bce, thats 2200 years old.
holy crap thats old.
exactly how afraid of dropping it on the floor should i be

reply to post by Kantzveldt


oh sorry, i did not see your terracotta question.
i could not tell, but its a possibility.
how do i tell.

reply to post by jisujaaljo



Glad you're happy, style, size, material and context all check out for a Greco-Buddhist Temple wall Devata, which given the history are scace. It looks like terracotta, from what can be seen, stone would have natural irregularities and probably feel slightly heavier.

reply to post by Kantzveldt


ive been looking at terracotta on ms google now and im pretty sure it is terracotta.
thank you yet again friend

reply to post by Kantzveldt


dont hate me now but ive cleaned the head i wee bit with a toothbrush and there was more colour beneath the dirt.
does it look correct, the colouring i mean.
/jimmy
right click then view picture,

reply to post by jisujaaljo



Yes it looks fine but i wouldn't clean up anymore, original surviving paintwork from Greek period statues is extremely rare.

reply to post by Kantzveldt


you are right, no more cleaning.
only need to figure out what to do with it now then.
thank you very much for the help.

reply to post by jisujaaljo




I wouldn't worry about it, quality of overall piece and condition wise i'd value it in the hundreds of dollars, i'd just enjoy finding an interesting item.


The brown/pink on the face btw was the original flesh tone/paint.

reply to post by jisujaaljo


Looks roman that nose was typical in roman culture, not an expert though just an opinion

reply to post by Kantzveldt


Oh that i do enjoy that is. So you're saying that three colours are intact. Red black and skintone. Wow this is soo cool. I really need to get a little glas box to put it in. And perhaps some silica so it will stay dry ))