Terracotta figurines are the most common sculpture type in Greek art. Often fairly crude in their rendering, they were clearly designed for use across all social strata, and provide insight into the everyday lives of Greeks. Statuettes of young females were exceptionally popular during both the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Tanagra figures, so called from the archaeological site from which they were found, are distinct in style. Polychromatic and defined, they depict young girls in day-to-day poses and activities. Tanagra figures, due to their popularity, were then copied and spread across the wider Greek Empire. Small statuettes were left as votive figures in temples and personal shrines. Statuettes like this were generally made with single or bivalve moulds that were in turn made from a clay model. All Greek sculptural production was originally polychrome, although there are few examples in modern times in their original condition with the polychrome intact.
Greek Terracotta Fragment of a Tanagra-Type Figure
£ 27.50
A finely modelled Greek Tanagra terracotta fragment of a female figure. She is depicted with an elaborate hairstyle, ending in a bun and possibly veiled towards the back of her head. Facial features are naturalistically rendered but are slightly worn due to age. She is covered in areas of black pigment. This fragment was likely part of a bigger statue.
Provenance: From a collection acquired on the UK art market before 2000s. From a Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.
Condition: Fragment in good condition.
SOLD
| Weight | 25.5 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | L 8 x W 4.1 cm |
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| Pottery and Porcelain |
