Head with flat profile and rudimentary facial features. The face roughly oval, framed by oblique, incised strands of hair. Two flat ovoid hollows denote the eyes; triangular nose modelled in the round. The mouth represented by an oblong hollow. Plastically modelled features at the side of the face may indicate the ears, hair or a cap. A rounded ridge at the top of the neck probably denoting a torque. Celtic sculpture on this scale and in this state of preservation is exceedingly rare. Surface smoothed. Worn.
PROVENANCE
Formerly priv. coll. Robert Wyndham Ketton-Cremer, Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, England. Thereafter, priv. coll. Norman Brett. Subsequently owned by his nephew James Brett, 1966 (it remained in his office at his shop in Elm Hill until 1986, then in his cottage at Gunton Park, Gunton, Norfolk). Thereafter, priv. coll. S. G., Basel.
NOTE
Compare a head from Netherby (Cumbria, England), for which cf. J. Sharkey, Celtic mysteries: The ancient religion (London, 1995), Fig. 3.




