Europe, probably northern, ca. 1000 to 1300 CE. This is a grotesque pottery head showing a bearded man with exaggerated eyes, nose, and ears. Grotesque pottery faces, like this one and the one held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art that was originally from the Church of Notre–Dame–en–Vaux in Champagne, were used as decoration for religious buildings during the period of Gothic architecture. These bold features are intended to be seen from a distance, and they were often placed in high up places, as the ones noted from Lincoln Cathedral and York Minster in England. They may have served an apotropaic function during these superstitious times; medieval art was often obsessed with the grotesque. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.6" L x 2" W x 3.25" H (6.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 8.3 cm).
Provenance: Ex-Paul & Louise Bernheimer collection, Cambridge, MA and Laguna Woods, CA.
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#111954
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This piece has been broken off of something larger (these are architectural decorations) and has some chips and wear, but the features remain.