The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 29, 2024

Head of a Woman

Head of a Woman

600s BCE
Overall: 8 x 4.5 x 3.7 cm (3 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 1 7/16 in.)
Location: 102D Pre-Roman

Did You Know?

Amber is fossilized ancient tree sap, often imported from the Baltic to the Mediterranean region.

Description

Amber, a form of fossilized tree resin, was much prized in the ancient Mediterranean world, perhaps due to its mysterious luminosity, fragrance, and magnetism. It was often carved into figures or heads of humans, animals, or mythical creatures. Small perforations on this head suggest that it may once have been mounted, perhaps for use as a pendant. Although now opaque and crackled due to age, in antiquity the surface probably exhibited some degree of translucence, a valued attribute for amulets and ornaments.
  • {{cite web|title=Head of a Woman|url=false|author=|year=600s BCE|access-date=29 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1992.61