figurine

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Object Type
Museum number: 1900,0903.5
Description: Terracotta figurine depicting a woman holding an infant; hand-made body with applied details and mould-made heads; long, narrow plank-like body with a slightly splaying base; the adult's right arm, now missing, was originally raised in the air; the left is a simple strip of clay enveloping the child; the woman has a line of curls along her forehead, with a veil over her head; the child wears a conical cap; made of light buff clay decorated with black painted bands on the body and arms; paint also on the woman's head; metal rod for attachment to a mount currently inserted in the base.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 600 BC-500 BC
Production place: Made in: Cyprus
Findspot: Excavated/Findspot: Lapithos, Cave sanctuary at a locality called 'Embros Temenon' 0.5km east of Lapithos village (near)
Materials
Type series
Technique: painted; handmade; mould-made
Dimensions: Height: 17.50 centimetres
Curator's comments: For an analysis of the iconography and manufacturing techniques of the Lapithos workshops based similar material in the Louvre from the same source, see: Yon M. and Yon M. 1988, 'Un culte populaire de la Grande Déesse à Lapithos', RDAC 1988/2, 1-17, esp. 11-13; also Karageorghis Coroplastic volume VA, 64-5 for additional examples of this type.
Bibliographic references: Terracotta / Catalogue of Terracottas in the British Museum (A132); Karageorghis Coroplastic VA / The coroplastic art of ancient Cyprus. V. The Cypro-Archaic period small female figurines. A. Handmade/wheelmade figurines (p. 64 no. 6 and pl. XLIII:6); Kiely 2011e / The ancient Kingdom of Lapethos (16)
Location: Not on display
Subjects: devotee/worshipper; women/feminism; fertility/maternity
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1900
Department: Greek and Roman
Registration number: 1900,0903.5

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