Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitlePlaster Cast Figurine of a woman wearing a peplos

About this objectPlaster cast copy of a figurine of a woman wearing a peplos. The original is from Athens and dates to ca. 450 BCE.

This figurine of a woman was possibly a votive offering. The original figurine would have been made of clay and manufactured using a mould.

The woman looks directly forward in a pose that is more reminiscent of the older Archaic style. Her facial features are naturalistic and her expression calm. In keeping with the Classical style her hair is centrally-parted and wavy at the front. It is pulled into a low bun at the nape of her neck and she wears a head covering similar to a headband. Her right arm is bent at the elbow with her hand above her breast while her left arm hangs by her side holding her peplos. She appears to be barefoot.

The peplos was a garment worn by Greek women popular during the early Archaic and Hellenistic periods. The peplos consisted of a large rectangular piece of material folded vertically and hung from the shoulders, with a broad overfold. A simple belt could be tied around the waist to pull the voluminous material into the body. A slit would be visible down one side, so a chiton (a short tunic) would often be worn underneath.

MakerMinistry of Culture Archaeological Receipts Fund

Maker RoleCasting and Copying Workshop

Date Madeca. 1988-1989

PeriodEarly Classical

Place MadeGreece; Athens

Place NotesOriginal manufactured in Attica

Medium and MaterialsPlaster

Style and IconographyAttic

TechniqueCasting (process)

Measurements280 x 85 x 77 mm

Subject and Association KeywordsClothing and dress

Subject and Association KeywordsWomen in art

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

Credit LinePurchased, 1996.

Object TypeFigurine

Object numberCC20

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved