 | Apolonia Ancient Art |
|
Home |
|
Greek Seated Terracotta Goddess with Pleasing Smile browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Ancient World:Greek:Pottery: Pre AD 1000: item # 956731
Apolonia Ancient Art 290 Fillmore St. #D Denver, CO. 80206 303-321-7351 gallery Guest Book $865.00 |
|
||||||||||
| This piece is a Greek terracotta that is a seated goddess, probably Demeter. This piece dates circa 500 B.C., is approximately 7.5 inches high, and is probaby Corinthian from mainland Greece. (For the type, see "Classical Terracotta Figures" by James Chesterman, Ward Lock Limited Pub., London, 1974, no.41.) This goddess is seen seated on a throne and is wearing a Greek Doric peplos, which was made of wool, and she is seen fully draped with folds seen on the arms and at the feet. This piece is a light red terracotta, and has light brown earthern deposits seen on the inner and outer surfaces of this piece. In addition, there are spotty traces of white pigment that was used as a base paint, as this piece was originally painted with several colors. This piece has some minor repair, and was repaired from three large fragments. This repair also appears to be quite aged, and although this piece has some minor repair, this piece is an exceptional example, due to the pleasing archaic smiling facial expression and the design of the drapery. The pleasing smiling expression seen on this piece gives this piece a serene feeling, and the drapery design conveys that this goddess is not a young woman, which defines Demeter, rather than Persephone. Demeter was the great Greek Earth-goddess, patroness of fertility and goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries; one of the twelve major Olympian gods and one of the six children of Cronos and Rhea. This piece was likely a grave offering, and as such, promoted eternal life and fertility. This nice piece easily conveys the identity of the figure that is depicted (Demeter), and this is a scarce attribute relative to Greek terracottas. Ex: Private German collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition: | |||||||||||
|
