ANCIENT GREEK ARCHAIC MARBLE HEAD OF A KOUROS
GREEK ISLANDS OR SICILY, C. 6TH CENTURY B.C.
Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000
Auction: 13 March 2025 from 13:00 GMT
Description
carved marble, with stylised features typical of the period, including a long oval face, high cheekbones, almond eyes, curving brows, and an enigmatic smile, the hair is finely carved, with undulating waves along the forehead, falling in plaits behind the ears and along the neck, fleshy lips formed into an enigmatic smile enhancing the expressive quality, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
25.7cm tall
Provenance
Lamonaca Family Collection, France, formed 1950s, thence by descent
Subsequently in a private collection, Paris, France
Footnote
This head was likely part of a life-size statue depicting a nude young man, referred to as a kouros, derived from the Greek word for boy. Its stylistic features suggest it was produced by a provincial workshop. The head displays the emblematic "Archaic Smile," a defining feature of Greek sculpture from the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC. This subtle, enigmatic expression was employed to animate figures and convey an idealised sense of vitality and well-being, symbolising internal harmony rather than reflecting individual emotion. The widespread use of this motif can be seen across a wide array of scenes, even in depictions of mortally wounded warriors, highlighting its symbolic role. While its exact meaning is still debated, the smile likely reflects the Greek ideal of arete (excellence) and may also suggest a philosophical expression of life and the afterlife.