A Greek Terracotta Female Votary with Piglet

£ 2,200.00

An excellent Greek terracotta statuette of a female figure. She stands on a small plinth, her arms tucked into her sides and her head facing forwards. She wears a pleated chiton, necklace and low polos, with her wavy hair drawn back from her face. She clutches the front and back legs of a piglet in her hands.

Date: Circa early 5th Century B.C.
Provenance: Private collection, Switzerland, acquired from Galleria Serodine, Ascona (Terrakotten aus Westgriechenland, Casa Serodine Ascona, 1 April 1994-23 May 1994, no. 3).
Condition: Extremely good condition.

SOLD

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. As a result of their low cost, they were often used for votive purposes. The piglet was an offering associated with the cults of Demeter and Persephone, for whom the pig was sacred. This statuette was most likely given to those deities as an expression of fulfilled obligations or supplication to the goddesses.

Weight 1528 g
Dimensions W 9 x H 28 cm
Culture

Greek Mythology

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Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Reference: For similar, see the British Museum, London, Item 1772,0316.27