Standing Woman Terracotta figure

Summary

A small statuette of a woman, one shoulder exposed, holding a leaf-shaped fan in her left hand.

Description of object

This woman is standing with the weight on her left leg, while the right is set to the side. The head is facing straight ahead but is slightly bowed. In front, the hair is divided by a centre-parting but is otherwise not arranged according to any particular pattern. Her attire consists solely of a chiton and a mante. The right arm is lowered under the mantle, which has slid down over the right shoulder along with the chiton. The material of the mantle covers the left hand which grips, through it, a leaf-shaped fan which it raises to the left shoulder; the mantle is thus pulled upwards. The large folds in the drapery of the chiton and the lowest part of the mantle are in strong contrast to the very detailed rendering of the folds across the bust and the right arm. The massive body, the very large head and the small fan further contributed to the general impression of disharmony. No exact parallels to this statuette have been found, and it’s authenticity has been questioned.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Technical imaging

• UV
• VIL
• IR

Sampling

• UV-VIS

Bibliography

V. Poulsen 1949, no. 144. c.f.

For the pose; Mollard-Besques 1972, 19. no. D 81 and D82, pl. 19 a and c.

Burgerwelten 86, no. 4, 99, no. 17.