Description

A beautiful Greek terracotta female figure of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, desire, and fertility. She is depicted with a semi-nude body in a contrapposto stance  which is very typical of Aphrodite figures. She stands with one hand on the hip and her weight shifted, and holds her himation in place, which covers the lower part of her body below her waist. With her right lower arm missing, she would have leaned her body against a pillar. The head is slightly tilted, with stylized wavy hair pulled to the sides and back, ending in a bun or knot at the back. Her facial expressions (eyes, mouth nose) still clearly visible. On the body and himation white and purple purple slip remains. 

Although (and perhaps because of) the lower part of the body is missing, it is a very graceful statuette of high quality.

Positive Thermoluminescence test from samples taken inside the belly and back of the head. 

Culture

Greek, Hellenistic period

Dating

c. 200 - 400 B.C.

Size

13,5 cm without stand, with stand 18 cm

Provenance

Dutch private collection 

J.Bagot Ancient Art, Barcelona, Spain

Private collection A.P. Europe, acquired in the 1980s

Condition

Great condition. Obviously legs are missing, as is the lower right arms and a part of the bun in the back of the head.