Hellenistic Terracotta Statuette of a Woman

Object Description

An ancient Greek, hollow moulded, terracotta statuette of a seated woman. She is dressed in a delicate full-length chiton and himation, with her hair parted in the middle and braided back into an elegant chignon. The figure is shown sitting on rocks, with her right leg crossed underneath her left at the ankles. Carved with intricate detail, the folds of the fabric evoke a sense of dynamism, with her left foot poking out beneath the layers of her chiton. Hidden underneath the fabric, her left arm and hand rest on her thigh, while her right is place behind her onto the rocks. The facial features and anatomical details are finely crafted, showing the intricate details of her eyes and lips. Her expression is pensive, as though she is sitting in reflection. The figure is created in the round with two cut-out sections in the back, and is affixed to a custom-made mount.

Date: Circa 3rd – 2nd century BC

Object History

Private collection, London. Acquired Spink and Son, 10 December 1952, item 8, (included on a 1967 Christie’s valuation, p. 70). Offered Sotheby’s London, 8 December 1994, lot 186.

Object Condition

Fine condition. Signs of repairs to several areas, including around the neck, around the rocks, and the left leg, which still displays cracks. Some wear due to age such as scratches. Some of the white slip is still visible to the surface. Wear to the mount, including water marks, discolouration, and areas where the fabric has worn away.

Object Details