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Figurine of a seated girl with tambourine and fillet
Greek
Early Hellenistic Period
about 325–300 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Greece, Boiotia, Tanagra
Medium/Technique
Terracotta
Dimensions
Height: 12.5 cm (4 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
Julia Bradford Huntington James Fund and Museum purchase with funds donated by contribution
Accession Number10.230
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsSculpture
DescriptionGirl seated on a square block which rests on the plinth of the statuette. She wears a high-belted peplos, whose overfold almost reaches her knees. The left corner of the overfold is pulled down by a circular weight. Her mantle is wrapped around her left forearm, and in her right hand she holds a wreath and a tympanon or drum. Her hair is done in the fashion known as the lampadion, or little torch, in which a bow of curls is tied on top of her head. Her attributes characterize her as a participant at a religious festival or ceremony, perhaps for Cybele or Dionysos.
The front half of the base has been broken and reattached, as has the right side of the block together with the wreath, tambourine, and some of the girl's drapery. The head has been reattached but is certainly the original. Irregular cracks at the sides of the head reflect the original joining of separately molded front and rear sections. Rather coarse clay, olive (greenish brown) at the surface and red-brown in the core. White slip overall, flaked off in isolated spots. Traces of pink paint on lips; pupil of left eye painted blue; hair is dark gray. Hollow. Back, molded but undetailed, except for mantle wrapped around left arm, which is fully finished. The block on which the figure sits is open below and behind (Description from J. Herrmann in Uhlenbrock, The Coroplast's Art, cat. no. 10).
The front half of the base has been broken and reattached, as has the right side of the block together with the wreath, tambourine, and some of the girl's drapery. The head has been reattached but is certainly the original. Irregular cracks at the sides of the head reflect the original joining of separately molded front and rear sections. Rather coarse clay, olive (greenish brown) at the surface and red-brown in the core. White slip overall, flaked off in isolated spots. Traces of pink paint on lips; pupil of left eye painted blue; hair is dark gray. Hollow. Back, molded but undetailed, except for mantle wrapped around left arm, which is fully finished. The block on which the figure sits is open below and behind (Description from J. Herrmann in Uhlenbrock, The Coroplast's Art, cat. no. 10).
ProvenanceBy 1902: with Edward Perry Warren (according to his records: bought from a Greek in 1902); purchased by MFA from Edward Perry Warren, June 2, 1910, for $4,000.00 (this figure is the total price for MFA 10.159-10.230)