SILENE MASK Terracotta with traces of white slip Minor breakage and regluing Dim. 15 x 17 cm Magna Graecia, 5th-4th century BC Provenance Former French private collection, built up between 1990 and 2000 The face displays the characteristic features of Silenus as established by Greek iconography: grotesque and expressive physiognomy, broad and wrinkled forehead, bulging eyes with perforated pupils creating an intense and hypnotic gaze, fleshy, blunt nose, mouth wide open in a rictus revealing the teeth, suggesting laughter, song or drunkenness. The cheeks are rounded and strongly modelled, accentuating the comic expressiveness of the character. The chin is prominent and bearded. The hair and beard, abundant and untidy, are rendered by wavy locks in high relief, creating an effect of volume and movement characteristic of representations of these woodland creatures. The pointed, sideways-pointing ears are the essential zoomorphic feature identifying Silenus as a hybrid creature, halfway between man and animal (donkey or horse, according to tradition). The top of the head is crowned with a plant diadem in relief depicting ivy (hedera), the sacred plant of Dionysus symbolising intoxication, immortality and perpetual rebirth. The stylised leaves, modelled with precision, create a decorative band encircling the forehead. The terracotta, a characteristic pinkish-beige from the clays of Magna Graecia, retains traces of white slip in protected areas (notably around the eyes and in the hollows of the hair), attesting to an original polychromy that has now largely disappeared. Originally, these masks were enhanced with bright colours (red, black, ochre) to accentuate their theatrical expression. Two suspension holes at the top and sides of the mask were used to hang the mask, either as part of an architectural décor (temple or theatre ornament) or as an ex-voto hanging in a Dionysian sanctuary. The underside of the mask, which is hollow and smooth, shows a small old break that has been glued back in place, but does not affect the visual integrity of the main face. A Magna Graecia Terracotta Silenus Mask Applique. 5th-4th century BCE. The face displays the characteristic features of the Silenus as established by Greek iconography: grotesque and expressive physiognomy, broad and wrinkled forehead, bulging eyes with perforated pupils creating an intense and hypnotic gaze, flattened and fleshy nose, mouth wide open in a grimace revealing the teeth, suggesting laughter, song or intoxication. The cheeks are plump and strongly modeled, accentuating the comic expressivity of the character. The chin is prominent and bearded. The hair and beard, abundant and disheveled, are rendered by undulating locks in high relief, creating an effect of volume and movement characteristic of representations of these sylvan creatures. The pointed ears, raised laterally, constitute the essential zoomorphic attribute identifying the Silenus as a hybrid creature, halfway between man and animal (donkey or horse according to traditions). The crown of the head is adorned with a vegetal diadem in relief depicting ivy (hedera), sacred plant of Dionysus symbolising intoxication, immortality and perpetual rebirth. The stylized leaves, modeled with precision, create a decorative band encircling the forehead. The terracotta, of pinkish beige characteristic of Magna Graecia clays, preserves traces of white slip in protected areas (notably around the eyes and in the hollows of the hair), attesting to an original polychromy today largely disappeared. Originally, these masks were heightened with vivid colours (red, black, ocher) accentuating theatrical expressivity. At the top of the mask and on the sides, two suspension holes permitted hanging the mask, either as an element of architectural decoration (temple or theater ornament), or as an ex-voto suspended in a Dionysiac sanctuary. The reverse of the mask, hollow and smoothed, displays a small ancient break reattached, not altering the visual integrity of the principal face.