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A Terracotta Figurine of a Grotesque

6.500 CHF

Net for Export

Greek

Greek, 5th century B.C.

Terracotta

Height: 16.4 cm

Width: 5.3 cm

Depth: 4.9 cm

Statuette of a man whose body is almost entirely wrapped up in a himation. Large, sticking-out ears, slightly bulging eyes, a broad nose and fleshy lips lend him a somewhat grotesque appearance. On his head he wears a conical cap. On a low base. Our terracotta perhaps has to do with the rituals that formed part of the theatre performances at the Kabeiroi sanctuary of Thebes. Large areas of white engobe preserved. Traces of reddish paint in the face, on the neck and in the lower third of the legs (possibly indicating trousers). Pupils defined in black. Traces of ochre paint on the himation. A reddish-brown stripe on the base.

PROVENANCE

Formerly priv. coll. (d. 1991), London, 1960s. Inherited by his daughter, (d. 2005) and then by his son-in-law R. J. M.-P., London.

NOTE

For a figurine of the same type, cf. B. Schmaltz, Terrakotten aus dem Kabirenheiligtum bei Theben (Berlin : W. de Gruyter, 1974), p, 177, pl. 25, cat. no. 318. For a close variante with an open mouth, cf. London, British Museum, Inv. no. 1996,0326.2.

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