Published Terracotta Antefix with a Goroneion from Taranto

Culture: Greek/Taranto

Period: 2nd half of 5th century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 18.8 cm x 26 cm

Price: Sold

Ref: 2487

Provenance: Swiss private collection, acquired prior to 1980. Thence acquired from Bonhams in 2008 for the Musée de Mougins, France. Exhibited in the Musée de Mougins from 2011 to 2017. 2011 published in the opening catalogue of the museum. Last in the German private collection Sigrid Fiebig, Bad Herrenalb. Acquired on 15 February 2018 from an Austrian gallery. With the original invoice and certificate.

Condition: An ancient wear with a missing part on the upper edge. The body of the left snake with wear on the surface. Overall, an antefix with a strong expression in a wonderful condition.

Description: Terracotta antefix from Taranto with the face of a Medusa. The depiction of this Gorgoneion stands for the transitional type from the terrifying archaic Medusa to the lovely Gorgo with the gentle female features of the later centuries. The massive, hair parted in the centre let the roundish face appear even broader. The vigilant eyes look out from thick lids, the mouth is open and expose the row of teeth behind thick lips. Characteristic for this type are also the two serpents which coil around the forehead like a hairband and fall down to the side like locks of hair. The heads of the snakes are raised, the mouth threateningly open. Beautiful color remains, especially the yellow of the hair is in places preserved. Published in: M. Merrony, “Mougins Museum of Classical Art”, 2011, page 64. Exhibited in the Musée d’Art Classique de Mougins in France from 2011 to 2017. See for the type also the antefix in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the Accession Number 20.215, as well as the example in the British Museum with the inventory number GR1889.8-10-1. Mounted.