Greek terracotta New Comedy mask

3rd century BC

Height: 7.7 cm

A miniature terracotta mask of a woman probably a hetaira. The face with characteristic open mouth is framed by her centrally parted wavy hair gathered by a cloth band and falling in four tight curls from behind the ears. At either side, near the mask's edges, are two round holes for attachment or suspension.

Known primarily from the works of Menander surviving on substantial papyrus fragments, New Comedy, the final of the Greek dramatic forms, was prevalent from around 320 to about 260 BC. The plots, rather like situation comedies of today, centred around stock characters which included the slave, the soldier and the hetaira. Each character had its specific mask so as an audience could quickly recognise the characters on stage.

Exhibited: 'Dizygotica: Antiquities and Postcards', Rupert Wace and John Kasmin, 1st - 22nd December 2017

Provenance: Schatz collection, Germany, acquired 1974, Zühlsdorf, Cologne

£6,500