HEAD OF A NUBIAN

Bronze, gold, cornelian, obsydian.
Ht. 4 cm, length 2.7 cm, depth 3cm.
Provenance: probably the Delta.
Formerly in the Daltari Collection and the Carnarvon.
Collection gift of Edward S. Harkness, 1926.
Hellenistic, 3rd century B.C.
New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art No. 26.7.1417

This head in reduced format is, technically and artistically, a masterpiece. The smooth and delicately modelled face contrasts with the tightly curled hair. The assemblage of metals - analysed by D. Schorsch - authorizes its dating to the New Empire but the stylistic characteristics suggest rather the Ptolemaic Period.