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Cute Greek Boeotian Terracotta of Seated Infant browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Ancient World:Greek:Sculpture: Pre AD 1000: item # 934849
Apolonia Ancient Art 290 Fillmore St. #D Denver, CO. 80206 303-321-7351 gallery Guest Book $2675.00 |
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| This cute Greek terracotta is a smiling seated infant that is seen holding a rooster. This scarce piece dates circa 350 B.C., is approximately 3.5 inches high, and is in mint condition with no repair and/or fill. This piece has an original thin white slip that covers the majority of the piece, and this was used as a base for additional pigments that were applied to the piece. The smiling chubby infant is seen looking down at the rooster that is held with his left arm, and he is nude, except for some drapery seen over his right leg. This image of a chubby infant is seen in other examples that were produced in Athens and Tanagra in Boeotia, and this piece was probably a grave offering for a child, or was an offering to a sanctuary with deities that were concerned with child care or fertility. The rooster for the ancient Greeks also represented a pugnacious spirit in boys, and were favored as domestic pets. They also brought in the new day and represented renewal and new life, which suits this piece as a grave offering. There was also an erotic side as well, in addition to an agonistic side to roosters in ancient Greece, as they were often love gifts of older men to young boys. In ancient Greek myth, the Trojan prince Ganymede is often depicted with a rooster given to him by Zeus. (The type of terracotta offered here can be seen in "Coming of Age in Ancient Greece, Images of Childhood from the Classical Period", by Jenifer Neils and John Oakley, Yale University Press Pub., 2003, nos. 40 and 94. No. 40 is seen in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and is 5.8 cm high, and dates circa 330-310 B.C. This piece is also seen seated on a square base, and has an analogous body and face to the piece offered here.) The type of terracotta offered here is seldom seen on the market, and Munzen Und Medaillen A.G. in Basel, Switzerland, had an analogous piece listed for 3600 S.F. in October 1980 in "Terrakotten Der Antike, List S". This piece is a wonderful example of ancient Greek Classical period art that is in mint condition. Ex: J.J. Klejman Gallery, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition: | |||||||||
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