Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleFigurine

About this objectPale pinkish terracotta figurine of a young woman holding a bird. The woman stands facing us, her left arm down at her side and her right across her chest and holding a bird, possibly a dove. There is a single row of beaded hair about the top of her head. Although her eyes are visible, there is no trace of the mouth. She seems to have worn a sleeved chiton that reaches to the ground.

This piece was made from a worn mould, leaving the features quite indistinct. The sculptor had to add an extra pinch of clay for the nose after the piece was removed from the mould. The back of the figure is plain and has a small circular vent hole at the level of the waist. The figurine would have been brightly coloured at one time. Today there are no remains of a slip, but some patches of a red paint are still visible.

The figurine will have been a votive offering at a sanctuary and in a sense may have represented the dedicator. It is reminiscent of Late Archaic korai, and figurines of this general kind are found throughout the ancient Greek world. This type of figurine is archaic and probably of the later sixth century BC, but the mould was so worn that the date of manufacture is difficult to establish.

Date MadeLate 6th Century - Mid 5th Century BCE

PeriodArchaic

Medium and MaterialsClay: Terracotta

Style and IconographyArchaic

Style and IconographyReligious art

TechniqueMolding (forming)

TechniqueSculpting

MeasurementsHeight 272mm

Subject and Association KeywordsBirds in art

Subject and Association KeywordsWomen in art

Subject and Association KeywordsFigurative art

Subject and Association KeywordsArt and religion

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by Mrs Broadhead, 1968. From the collection of Professor H.D. Broadhead.

Object TypeFigurine

Object number86.68

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved