Add to Collection

Add this item to an existing or new collection.
Harvard Art Museums
Incorrect Username, Email, or Password
This object does not yet have a description.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1926.21.13
Title
Kneeling Draped Woman
Classification
Sculpture
Work Type
sculpture, statuette
Date
3rd-2nd century BCE
Places
Creation Place: Europe, Greece
Period
Hellenistic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/291962

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Terracotta
Technique
Mold-made
Dimensions
17 × 10 × 11 cm (6 11/16 × 3 15/16 × 4 5/16 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Percy S. Straus
Accession Year
1926
Object Number
1926.21.13
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.

Descriptions

Description
Mostly complete figurine; missing arms.

Kneeling young woman, draped. Her hair is drawn back in a complicated hairdo, similar to “melon” style: separated into four sections, twisted, and brought back into a small ponytail at the nape, with separate locks of curly hair framing the face. She seems to wear a crown of small fruit (perhaps ivy berries). Small head, looks down to the right with joyful expression. Regular features. Oval face with a small forehead. Small eyes with both lids rendered in relief; small, straight nose; small mouth appears to smile.

She wears a long chiton under a himation (or mantle) that is falling off her shoulders. She kneels on her left knee, while her right leg is bent, foot flat on the ground, and seems to lean on a bulbous mound behind her. Her arms are missing, but comparable figures suggest that this young woman was playing with knucklebones. She would have thrown the bones (like game pieces) with her right hand, while her left would have held their carrying pouch.

Would have been painted originally, now only traces of white ground extant.

Hollow. Mold-made in two bivalve molds, likely plaster. Round venthole at middle of back. Detailing of hair incised. The back is modeled, but treatment of folds is more shallow and linear. Attached to a rectangular, narrow base.

The clay is bright brick-red and finely levigated; hard-fired.

Related Works

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu