Female Head. Roman Empire, 1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.

Female head. Roman Empire, 1st century B.C.–1st century A.D.
Carved alabaster.
It shows surface erosion consistent with its age.
Measurements: 9 x 6 x 6 cm; 15 cm total height including the base.

This female head is part of the Roman portraiture tradition with Hellenistic roots, in which the individualization of features is combined with a certain idealization of the face. The figure has serene, softly modeled features, with a broad forehead, almond-shaped eyes, and a small mouth, while the hair is arranged in wavy locks that frame the head and add volume to the composition.

The use of alabaster lends the piece a special visual delicacy, enhanced by the material’s inherent luminosity and translucency. Its small size suggests a function linked to a private, votive, or decorative image, within the broad repertoire of representations of high-ranking figures developed during the Roman period.