Head of a woman

Summary

The head is made of white marble. Dark brown lime deposits can be seen on the surface on the left side of the hair and face, though these have been removed by cleaning from the rest of the face. Traces of red paint in the hair are visible to the naked eye.

In May 1998, the head was cleaned and the cast restorations retouched with water colours.

Description of object

Dark brown lime deposits on the surface on the left side of the hair and face, though these have been removed by cleaning from the rest of the face. The nose, with the adjacent part of the forehead and a small part of the right cheek, have been restored in plaster. The freely hanging part of the curls has been restored in marble on the left side and is missing on the right. The hair and the right cheek are chipped. There are numerous traces of red paint in the hair. On the base of the herm the front left corner has been broken off together with both back corners, a circumstance which may have been caused by the removal of the herm’s rudimentary arms from the dowel holes in the sides.

The woman’s head is on a rectangular shoulder herm of Roman type. The hair, which is taken up over the forehead, is very wavy and is combed back and plaited into two braids, which are wrapped around the head and fastened over the forehead. There are two curious, small locks at the back of the neck. Two shoulder locks behind the ears are brought forward over the chest. The extensive use of drill in the hair contrasts with the flat modelling of the face. There is a Venus ring around the neck.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Bibliography

F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 305.

M. Moltesen (2005), Catalogue. Imperial Rome III. Statues. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 219.