Anatomical votive model of a half head. Etruscan culture, 5th century B.C. - 4th century B.C.

Anatomical votive model of a half head. Etruscan culture, 5th century B.C. - IV century B.C.
Terracotta.
In good state of preservation.
Provenance: Former Belgian private collection, former Spanish antiquities dealer (2022), former Belgian private collection, Brussels.
Measurements: 25 x 11 x 14 cm.

Etruscan pottery represents a vibrant mixture of local creativity and external influences, particularly from Greek and Near Eastern cultures. Around the 7th century BC, Etruscan potters developed the style known as bucchero, distinguished by its glossy black finish, obtained through a reductive firing technique. These vessels, often carefully crafted and decorated with engravings or reliefs, were used both in everyday life and in ritual contexts. Early versions were light and elegant, while over time they evolved into more robust and ornate pieces, often imitating metal objects.

As early as the 6th century BC, Greek influence on Etruscan ceramics became more evident, especially through the arrival of Corinthian and Attic ceramics. In response, Etruscan craftsmen began to produce their own painted versions, adopting the black-figure and, later, red-figure techniques characteristic of Greek art. These objects, created in local workshops such as those at Vulci and Cerveteri, usually depicted mythological scenes, banquets and athletic competitions, often reinterpreted according to the Etruscan vision. Among the most common forms were amphorae, craters and kylikes, reflecting the central role of the symposium in their culture.

During the 5th century BC, Etruscan pottery became more marked by regional characteristics and showed a more conservative attitude to the innovations that continued to emerge in Greek pottery. Despite this, the production of impasto pieces continued, a more rustic and handmade pottery, used mainly in the domestic sphere. This is evidence of the coexistence of a utilitarian tradition alongside the production of more sophisticated decorative pieces.