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Source Image: PR307_01_07 of Unfinished Togate Male of Aphrodisias: Sculptor's Workshop

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Description

Detail of the togate male statue from the Sculptor's Workshop.

Monument
Aphrodisias: Sculptor's Workshop 
Monument Part
Unfinished Togate Male 
Monument Type
Statuary 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Visual identification)  
Date
circa ad 400 - pre ad 450 
Keywords
Head  
Collections
Aphrodisias, Site and Museum  

Location

Original Location
Aphrodisias 
Current Location
Aphrodisias Museum 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Vertical (90°)
Force: Medium
Description
The back of the head is roughed-out with the point chisel only.

2. Toolmarks

Process
Rough shaping
Tool
Roundel
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Hard
Description
The front of the hair and the ear are shaped with a round-headed chisel. This work clearly follows the point chiselling and cuts into it along the line of the figure's fringe.

3. Toolmarks

Process
Fine shaping
Tool
Flat Chisel
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Medium
Description
The main facial features are shaped with the flat chisel.

Notes

This figure's head is also distinctly less finished than the rest of the figure, which is essentially finished. This might indicate a division of labour between specialist portrait- and figure-carvers. This head has been interpreted as roughed-out ready for the addition of any portrait and used as evidence for the production for stock of honorific statues. However, the facial features of this figure are defined and it would have been difficult to carve this into just anyone. It seems most likely, then, that this was simply an unfinished statue rather than a stock piece, aborted perhaps because the commissioner changed their mind or failed to pay for it to be finished.

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