Figurehead, Bust Of Minerva

Each major port had ornate canoes, richly decorated, used for special occasions. It allowed you to visit the arsenal, join a flagship anchored in the harbor or welcome an illustrious visitor. This sculpture was to adorn one of these small vessels (rowboat, gondola or canoe). The presence of gilding lets us think of the royal character of the boat which carried it. The Greek reference to the goddess Minerva allows us to locate this sculpture in France or Italy at the end of the 17th century or at the beginning of the 18th century.
Louis XIV period
polychrome wood and gilded
face restorations