Date:1968 Medium:Carved serpentine (marketed mid-century as “African Jade”) Dimensions:11 × 9 × 8 in. (height × width × depth)
Signature/Marks: back with a personal note 1968
Description
Head of a Woman reflects Chaim Gross’s mature sculptural language of the late 1960s, a period marked by his interest in distilled, iconic portrait forms. The head tilts gently forward, with closed eyes and softly interlocking planes across the brow, cheeks, and jaw. The expression is meditative—almost votive—and contrasts with the muscular, faceted energy of his early wood carvings.
The material is serpentine, a dense metamorphic stone valued for its deep green tones and satin polish. Natural veining runs throughout the surface, enhancing the organic structure of the block and contributing to the sculpture’s quiet luminosity. Stone carvings by Gross from this period are comparatively rare, and this work stands as one of the strongest examples of his mid-career engagement with direct stone carving.
Condition
Excellent overall. Natural inclusions and faint surface textural variations are inherent to serpentine and visible only in angled light. No chips, cracks, or restorations. Original polish fully intact.
Provenance
Lombardo Collection → Velvet Foundation for the Arts (VLAF)
