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Face Urn
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This wheel-thrown vase is decorated with humanlike facial features and a phallus applied to the face’s cheek. Wide arching eyebrows meet at the short bridge of the face’s puggy nose, which sits over lips pursed around its protruding tongue. Finger marks can be seen around the eyes and eyebrows where clay was added onto the surface of the vessel to form the facial features.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, 1st Century |
|---|---|
| Date | 25–50 CE |
| Culture / Origin | Rhenish (Cologne), Gallo Roman, 2nd quarter, 1st Century |
| Medium | reddish ware with gray burnished slip |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 19.5 cm (7 11/16 in.); Overall: 19 x 20 cm (7 1/2 x 7 7/8 in.) |
| Department | Greek and Roman Art |
| Type | Ceramic |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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