Funerary Bust of a Woman
Artist
Unidentified artist
CultureCypriote
Date1st century BCE-1st century CE
Mediumlimestone
Dimensions11 3/8 x 7 7/16 in. (28.9 x 18.9 cm)
Classificationssculpture
Credit LineGift of W. A. Whitaker
Object number60.14.4
DescriptionThe bust of a woman wears a garment that hangs in straight, vertical folds from a border at the neck. A peaked mantle covers the head, falling to the shoulders. The mantle forms a sharp ledge at the back of the crown; the back is flat. A thin veil or scarf is worn beneath the mantle, formed in three layers above the hair. The hair is centrally parted and pulled back from the long, oval face in straight grooves; the hairline is emphasized by a thin incised line. Small pendants resembling inverted pyramids hang beside the head, presumably from the ears, although the ears are not depicted.The flat forehead ends in a low ridge above the eyes, which are narrow, with carved lids. A long, straight nose curves inward between the eyes, and continues at a low angle to the pointed tip. The nostrils are hollowed and outlined by incision. Indications of expression are minimal; grooves follow the natural wrinkle lines of the eyes, nose, and mouth, giving an impression of advanced age. The long neck is slightly concave at the center, suggesting a “Venus ring.”
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