Bronze figure of aphrodite, Roman Empire circa 2nd Century A.D

This lovely figure of Aphrodite is represented standing, naked, wearing a tiara, with her hair arranged in long curls, tied in a chignon and surmounted by a diadem. She is holding her girdle in her right hand. The statuette is mounted on a quadrangular Verde delle Alpi marble base, typical of late 19th/early 20th century.

Listed in Charles Gillot's account book in 1899 as acquired n Paris from Georges Manolakas, a Greek dealer, for 800 Franks. Charles Gillot, one of the most renowned French collectors, was the son of the engraver Firmin Gillot, inventor of paniconography, more widely known as “gillotage”, opening the first French photoengraving workshop in 1876. His collection was mostly dispersed after his death in 1903, partly donated to the Musée du Louvre and then transferred to the Musée Guimet after the Second World War. Another part was sold at auction on 8 February 1904, realising 827,000 francs. The remaining section, mostly Islamic, was sold by the heirs at Christie's Paris in 2008.

PROVENANCE
Georges Manolakos, 10 rue Buffault, Paris
Charles Gillot (1853-1903), Paris, acquired from the above on October 5th, 1899
Christie's, Paris, Ancienne Collection Charles Gillot (1853-1903), March 5th, 2008, no. 150, illus.