Ancient Greek Black-Glazed Terracotta Roundel with a Woman

Object Description

A finely rendered Greek black-glazed terracotta roundel depicting a female figure in high relief. The figure is turned to the left, and her delicately rendered face is framed by soft locks of hair and a crescent-shaped diadem on top of her head. The classical facial features are clear and undamaged. A thin dress is draped across her chest. A round object in the left corner of the roundel, possibly a pomegranate, potentially points to the figure being Persephone, the Greek goddess of the Underworld. The scene is surrounded by a concave frame, its edges now slightly damaged. Decorative concentric circles on the reverse of the roundel as well as its slightly concave shape suggest that the fragment was probably the base of a terracotta bowl.

Date: Circa 5th Century BC-1st Century AD

Object History

Raphaël Collin (1850-1916) collection, Paris; the Senator William A. Clark (1839-1925) Collection, acquired from the above in 1911; bequeathed to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington D.C., 1925; deaccessioned and gifted to the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington D.C., 2014; with Sands of Time Ancient Art, Washington D.C., 2021.

Object Condition

Very fine condition. The main scene is clear and intact. Some damage to the black glaze. Chips to the edges of the roundel. The reverse features markers from the previous collections.

Object Details