19th century AD or earlier. A small bronze head from a statuette representing a mater familias, in 'Korinna' hairstyle with oval face; eyes, nose and mouth outlined in a sketchy but effective way, the hair dressed in a melon coiffure made of six bands of hair on each side, pulled behind the neck in a chignon; mounted on a ctom-made display stand. See Girardon, S.P., Italic votive terracotta heads from the British Meum: a stylistic appraisal in their religio and historical settings, London, 1994, fig.F5a. 109 grams total, 50mm high (72mm including stand) (2 (2 3/4)"). From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister; from her collection formed 1960s-1990s. The model for the prototype of this hairstyle was a portrait herm said to be of the poetess Korinna, made by the 4th century artist Silanion, i.e. a melon coiffure recalling the old tutul of the ancient Roman noblewomen, of Etrcan derivation. The tutul was a style of feminine hair formed of twists of hair supported by a band. Varro considers this hairstyle to be typical of the Matres Familias. Verri Flacc seemed to reserve it for the flaminicae (the brides of the priests known as flamines).