This Italian sculpture most likely dates from the 16th century. The bust’s short-shell curls bear resemblance to a number of late 16th century statuettes of Black Africans, particularly a bronze depiction of a young Black slave attributed to Andrea Riccio. The headband would once have been gilded and there are holes for lost earrings, with both of these features common in depictions of both African men and women. As a result, there has been some debate over whether this figure is an adolescent boy or girl. The motif of an ear piecing was sometimes used in the 16th century to illustrate an imagined ideal of voluntary slavery, a symbol which remained popular at least into the 17th century.

The bust is remarkable for both its medium and quality. It is carved in the hard, semiprecious, dark green stone serpentine, which was prized in the ancient world. This tendency to use coloured stone for sculpture and decorative carving was particularly popular in central Italy and Rome in the late 16th and early 17th centuries; however, this bust is remarkable for both its medium and quality, with serpentine rarely used in sculpture. The lower edge of the bust is curved and bevelled, suggesting that it was originally set into a bronze or marble base. The base is likely a later addition, with the stone of a much less fine quality.