Tall Greek Tanagra Terracotta Standing Female Figure TL

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 21, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-02-21 10:00:00 2019-02-21 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-3858
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Tanagra, Hellenistic Period, ca. 2nd to 1st century BCE. A hollow, mold-formed terracotta depiction of an elegant female figure, perhaps a goddess, standing atop an integral rectangular plinth. She presents with a bent left leg beneath a flowing ankle-length himation and holds a lengthy cloak against her body with both arms. She stands with a slight backward lean with her head turned to the left, her countenance defined by recessed almond-shaped eyes, a slender nose, full lips, and ring-adorned ears, all beneath a centrally-parted coiffure with a pair of small nodules in the front. The pale-orange ground of the figure is accentuated by layers of chalky white, pale-blue, and orange-red pigment which fill the recesses of her vestments. Size: 4.25" W x 10.4" H (10.8 cm x 26.4 cm).
  
  During the Hellenistic Period, Greeks had access knowledge about the past through institutions like the Library of Alexandria, creating a sense of history and connection to the Greeks who had come before them. Prominent Hellenistic art collectors commissioned pieces based on public statues from the earlier Classical Period, and smaller, more available art forms like this sculpture echoed the naturalistic, detailed classical style. Terracotta figures like this one have been found in private dwellings where they may have been part of a shrine or had a religious purpose. Others decorate tombs and sanctuaries - in Tanagra, the site that this style of figure is named for, some graves have up to a dozen of these statuettes. Perhaps they represented mourners, dressed in finery to attend a funeral.
  
  This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
  
  Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Mazard Family collection, France, acquired in the 1970s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #142821

  Condition

  Repaired from multiple large pieces with small areas of restoration and resurfacing, overpainting, and light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor chips to head, body, legs, and base, with softening to some finer details, and fading to original pigmentation. Light earthen deposits as well as nice traces of original pigmentation throughout.
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