A sizeable Roman marble janus head Herm
Circa 1st Century A.D.
Carved on one side with the bearded head of Hermes, his hair drilled forming three rows of tight curls around his forehead and held in place with a fillet with side rotelles, a long loose lock falling forward over each shoulder, his drooping moustache with curled and drilled tips, forming part of the first layer of his long three-layered curly beard, each curl drilled, the other side showing the head of a maenad, her wavy hair centrally parted and held back with a fillet, a long loose lock escaping over each shoulder, her drapery forming a 'v' shape at the neckline, 16½in. (42cm.) high, some wear with restored noses, also the lips of Hermes
Carved on one side with the bearded head of Hermes, his hair drilled forming three rows of tight curls around his forehead and held in place with a fillet with side rotelles, a long loose lock falling forward over each shoulder, his drooping moustache with curled and drilled tips, forming part of the first layer of his long three-layered curly beard, each curl drilled, the other side showing the head of a maenad, her wavy hair centrally parted and held back with a fillet, a long loose lock escaping over each shoulder, her drapery forming a 'v' shape at the neckline, 16½in. (42cm.) high, some wear with restored noses, also the lips of Hermes
Sold for
£21,150
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Provenance:
Ex French private collection, acquired from Jean Mikas in the 1950's
Literature:
For a similar example, cf. J. Boardman, Greek Sculpture, The Classical Period (London 1991), fig.189, p.212. This published version of Hermes Propylaios ('before the gates'), from Pergamum is a copy of an original work by Alkamenes I and bears a strong resemblance to our head of Hermes. Such Hermae were mounted atop quadrangular pillars and used as boundary stones, marking crossroads, market corners, doorways and entrances to gardens and orchards. Originally based on the Greek god Hermes, he was not only the messenger of the gods, but also the patron of merchants and thieves and the god of roads, representing luck, wealth and in some parts of Greece fertility
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