Head Of Korê Viᵉ Century Bc

Head of a Kore
6th century BCE (Archaic period)
Molded and modeled terracotta

H. 11.7 cm
With base: 15.6 cm

Well preserved

Provenance: Former private collection, Paris

This terracotta head of a kore is a remnant of Archaic Greek statuary. It depicts a young woman, recognizable by her stylized face and finely detailed hair, consisting of braided locks falling over her shoulders. She wears a veil or headdress, a common feature in the representation of korai (votive or funerary female statues). The face retains the characteristic traits of Archaic art: a slight "Archaic smile," almond-shaped eyes, and simplified modeling.

Korai were statues dedicated to sanctuaries as offerings to the gods, particularly Athena or Artemis, or placed on tombs to honor the deceased. They embodied the feminine ideal and reflected the social and religious role of women in ancient Greece. This head, a fragment of a larger statue, attests to the refinement of terracotta sculpture of the period and the influence of major artistic centers such as Attica, Corinth, and Ionia.