Neapolitan Aged Woman with Sculpted Cap Attributed to Lorenzo Mosca

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16" (41 cm.) Polychromed terra cotta shoulderhead portraying an aged woman with stern expression, sculpted grey hair captured under a sculpted fitted cap with scalloped edge, deeply-incised age lines and well-defined cheek and jaw bones, downcast lips, definition of gaunt throat lines and goiter, tow-wrapped posable armature body, carved wooden arms and legs to above the knees, painted blue stockings, black slip-on clogs, wearing original folklore costume with applique silk ribbons and banding, pearl-drop gilt earrings. Condition: generally excellent. Neapolitan, mid-1700s. Value Points: outstanding artistry extends not only to facial sculpture, but also age-modeling of hands and sculpted cap. Comments: attributed to Lorenzo Mosca, whose other works are included in the noted Bordoni Collection of Bologna and the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum of Munich.