turned to his right, the eye with incised iris and drilled pupil, the eyebrow engraved, his deeply drilled tousled hair falling in a row of crescentic locks over the high forehead, the neck carved for insertion into a statue.

René Withofs, Brussels
Philippe Garlinck, Brussels, acquired from the above between 1960 and 1965 at the Foire des Antiquaires de Bruxelles

Fragmentary as shown, note missing upper lip, some of original polish appears to be preserved in places.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The original portrait of Commodus from which the present head derives was commissioned in A.D. 175 on the occasion of his receiving the title of Princeps Iuventutis (First among the Youth), a title which, under the Empire, was "a designation of honor for certain princes of the Imperial family who were obviously chosen as heirs" (M. Bunson, A Dictionary of the Roman Empire, 1995, p. 346). Commodus was then between fourteen to sixteen years of age. In addition to the present head eleven metropolitan versions of this portrait are known to be in existence (see K. Fittschen, Prinzenbildnisse antoninischer Zeit, Mainz, 1999, pp. 58-59, pls. 87-96), including its best preserved and most famous example in the Capitoline Museum (see D.E.E. Kleiner, Roman Sculpture, New Haven, 1992, fig. 241, and discussion).