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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Antiquities| ▸ |Antiquities by Material| ▸ |Terracotta Antiquities||View Options:  |  |  |   

Terracotta Figures

Terracotta is a type of hard-baked clay, produced by means of a single firing. Terracotta is usually un-glazed so-called "buff" clay. Archaeologists, art historians, and Forum's staff refer to clay objects such as sculptures or tiles, made without a potter's wheel as terracotta. We refer to vessels, lamps and objects made on the potter's wheel as pottery (even if it is buff clay). Terracottas were initially hand molded. Later came the development of the clay mold, with which the artisan could push the soft clay into the mold, and produce a fine terracotta on the spot. This was certainly one of the first examples of mass production. This mold could provide a limited number of copies before it lost definition. The results were beautiful. The Greek terracotta craftsman was called coroplast, which is Greek for "doll maker." These terracottas were mass produced, and almost anyone in the society could afford them. Terracotta figures were used either for religious purposes, as tools for the veneration of the gods and goddesses, or for secular purposes, as toys for the living and gifts from friends for the departed.

Unmounted pieces can be mounted by Forum for prices starting at $25 per piece. Request mounting in the checkout comments and we will respond by email with the price and a description of the mount, stand or base.

Northern Syria, Terracotta Flask with Fertility Goddess, Late 3rd - Early 2nd Millennium B.C.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Northern| |Syria,| |Terracotta| |Flask| |with| |Fertility| |Goddess,| |Late| |3rd| |-| |Early| |2nd| |Millennium| |B.C.|
In Excavations at Tell Qasile, Mazar reports finds of two anthropomorphic vessels depicting a fertility goddess. He discusses other fertility goddess vessels found from Egypt to Greece. Some are pierced through the breasts. He suggest they were filled through the top and an offering was made by pouring through the side holes, perhaps milk. The fertility goddess on this vessel does not resemble those on the vessels discussed and referenced and is not pierced through the breasts. It is pierced through a hole that might represent the naval or vagina.

This fertility goddess form with a "bird's beak" nose and annulet eyes and breasts is a type found in considerable numbers in many Northern Syria sites, dated from the 3rd to the Early 2nd millennium B.C. We do not know of another similar vessel.
AT23896. See Tell Qasile pp. 78 - 82 for discussion of "anthropomorphic" vessels, cf. Ladders to Heaven pp. 224 - 225, 184 - 195 for similar goddess figures, Choice, complete and intact but for small chips to base, tiny chips to rim; 3.9 cm tall, 3.5 cm to rim of vessel, early 2nd millennium B.C.; pink-beige terracotta, globular flask, flat bottomed trumpet base, short neck, everted mouth, rounded rim, goddess figure attached at side and shoulder with her head extending above the rim, she has a "bird's beak" nose, annulet eyes and breasts, collar or necklace, and arms at sides, goddess and vessel pierced through at her naval or groin; ex Griffin Gallery of Ancient Art (Boca Raton FL); SOLD


Canaanite, Palestine or Syria, Terracotta Figure of Baal on Horse, 1900 - 1600 B.C.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Canaanite,| |Palestine| |or| |Syria,| |Terracotta| |Figure| |of| |Baal| |on| |Horse,| |1900| |-| |1600| |B.C.|
Muscarella notes of the very similar male figure in Ladders to Heaven, "The sylizations of the facial features and the headdress come closest to those seen on heads of figures found in the Hama Level H. Apparently similar fragmentary seated figures also appear at Hamma Level H, ALalakh Level, V, Elbla and at other sites in Palestine and Syria, sometimes with one or two similar implements held in the hands. Whether these implements have divine or royal significance is unclear, but they are surely indicative of status. The fact that several such figurines exist in clay, suggests to this writer that they emulate a well-known cult image holding the same symbols."

Curiously, in "Iron Age Figurines from Philistia," David Ben-Shlomo writes, terracotta horses and horses with riders are "especially abundant in Judaean sites." These figures are, however, of a very different style, and much later, from Iron Age II and the Persian period 1000 - 330 B.C.
AT23904. cf. Muscarella Ladders to Heaven 201 (very similar male figure on 4-legged stool) and 202 (very similar horse with saddle, no rider), near Choice, complete, right rear leg of horse reattached, museum quality, very rare, extremely rare complete, terracotta male figure (probably Baal - a god) seated facing on horse right, bearded, eyes and ears of pierced pellets, wearing ankle length garment and headdress with vertical incisions ornamenting brim, holding implement (axe?) in right hand, horse with saddle and pierced pellet eyes, from an Israeli dealer; SOLD


Babylonia, Seleukid - Parthian, Terracotta Plaque of Kissing Couple, c. 300 B.C. - 200 A.D.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Babylonia,| |Seleukid| |-| |Parthian,| |Terracotta| |Plaque| |of| |Kissing| |Couple,| |c.| |300| |B.C.| |-| |200| |A.D.|
AT31039. cf. Hopper Figurines Fig. 5 (Nippur) & Fig 6 (Babylon); height 11 cm (3 7/8"), Choice, one-sided, SOLD


Roman, Wall Painting Fragment, 1st Century A.D.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Roman,| |Wall| |Painting| |Fragment,| |1st| |Century| |A.D.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.

Found in Rome, Italy.
AM36066. Wall painting fragment; cf. Curtius, Die Wandmalerei Pompejus; cf. Herbig, Nugae Pompeianorum; 4 x 4 ½ inches, Choice, corner section; buff-yellow tendril pattern with blue background, some red to left; on an attractive plexiglas mount; SOLD


Roman, Palmyra, Syria, Terracotta Plaque Tessera, 2nd - 3rd Century A.D.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Roman,| |Palmyra,| |Syria,| |Terracotta| |Plaque| |Tessera,| |2nd| |-| |3rd| |Century| |A.D.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.

Palmyra, in the heart of Syrian Desert. was the capital of Queen Zenobia. This tessera may have been made during the time of her short lived Palmyrene Empire.
AI36079. Terracotta plaque tessera, cf. Malloy, Writings of Mankind, 1990, 33; 3 x 2 cm, Choice, flat plaque depicting a lion lower left, palm tree in the center, crescent moon upper left, and star upper right, two lines of inscription of Palmyrene Aramaic; SOLD


Roman, Eastern Mediterranean, 8" Terracotta Standing Female Figure, 1st Century A.D.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Roman,| |Eastern| |Mediterranean,| |8"| |Terracotta| |Standing| |Female| |Figure,| |1st| |Century| |A.D.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
AT34367. 8" terracotta standing female figure, Choice, 20.5 cm (8") tall; beige terracotta; full length female figure standing in chiton and himation, left arm to breast and right arm at side; with stand as shown, reconstructed from two fragments; very rare; SOLD


Greek, Tegea, Archaic Terracotta Bust of Kore, 6th Century B.C.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Greek,| |Tegea,| |Archaic| |Terracotta| |Bust| |of| |Kore,| |6th| |Century| |B.C.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
AT34451. Bust of Kore, 8 cm (3") high, cream terracotta; Kore wearing polos, hair braided down sides, necklace with amulets attached, archaic eyes, Choice - Superb, beautiful style, unmounted; SOLD


Greco-Roman Anatatolia (Smyrna, Ionia?), Terracotta Woman Holding Infant, 2nd century B.C. - 1st century A.D.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Greco-Roman| |Anatatolia| |(Smyrna,| |Ionia?),| |Terracotta| |Woman| |Holding| |Infant,| |2nd| |century| |B.C.| |-| |1st| |century| |A.D.|
Kourotrophos (Greek: "child nurturer") was an Athenian deity, the protector of children and young people, with a cult and sanctuary, the so-called Kourotropheion. Gods and goddesses, including Athena, Apollo, Hermes, Hecate, Aphrodite, and Artemis, are given the epithet Kourotrophos when depicted holding an infant. Figurines of females holding infants are also called Kourotrophos. The purpose of kourotrophic figurines is debated. Perhaps they are representations of the Athenian goddess. Perhaps they were fertility or childbirth charms. They are found in graves, so perhaps they were companions for the dead.

We were unable to find another example of this type. Attribution to Smyrna, Ionia is based on the color and texture of the clay, and on the style and workmanship.
AH21487. Terracotta kourotrophos statuette of a woman holding a swaddled infant, 25cm (9 7/8") tall, mold-made, hollow and without back, Choice, complete and intact, old dealer labels on the reverse, stands on its own base, Late Hellenistic to Roman Era; SOLD


Greek, Archaic Terracotta Bust, 5th - 4th Century B.C.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Greek,| |Archaic| |Terracotta| |Bust,| |5th| |-| |4th| |Century| |B.C.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
AT34431. 8 cm (3") high, Choice to Superb, cream terracotta; hair rolled and touching shoulders, hands at breast, archaic eyes; unmounted; very rare; SOLD


Egyptian, Terracotta Concubine Bust, Early Dynastic, 3100 - 2700 B.C.

|Terracotta| |Antiquities|, |Egyptian,| |Terracotta| |Concubine| |Bust,| |Early| |Dynastic,| |3100| |-| |2700| |B.C.|
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years.
AT33400. Terracotta concubine head; 2 ¼" high, buff terracotta with white slip, bust features incised with traces of black, Choice, SOLD




  




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REFERENCES

Alex G. Malloy, Inc. Egyptian Art and Artifacts, Summer 1980. (New York, 1980).
Badre, L. Les Figurines Anthropomorphes en Terre Cuite a L'age du Bronze en Syria. (Paris, 1980).
Bailey, D. Catalogue of the Greek Terracottas in the British Museum, Vol. IV: Ptolemaic and Roman Terracottas from Egypt. (London, 2008).
Besques, S. Catalogue Raisonné des Figurines et Reliefs en Terre-Cuite Grecs Étrusques et Romains. (Paris, 1954-1992).
Besque, S. Figurines et reliefs grecs en terre cuite. (Paris, 1994).
Besques, S. Tanagra Collection des Maitres. (Paris, 1950).
Burn, L. & R. Higgins. Catalogue of the Greek Terracottas in the British Museum Vol. III: Hellenistic. (London, 2001).
Byrn, R. "Lie Back and Think of Judah: The Reproductive Politics of Pillar Figurines" in Near Eastern Archaeology 67:3 (2004), pp. 137 - 151.
Casal, J.-M. "Mundigak: l'Afghanistan à l'aurore des civilisations" in Archeologia, No. 13, Nov. 1966, pp. 30 - 37.
Chesterman, J. Classical Terracotta Figures. (London, 1974).
Harper, P. The Royal City of Susa: Ancient Near Eastern Treasures in the Louvre. (New York, 1993).
Higgins, R. Catalogue of the Greek Terracottas in the British Museum, Vol. I: 730 - 330 B.C. (London, 1954).
Higgins, R. Catalogue of the Greek Terracottas in the British Museum, Vol. II: 730 - 330 B.C. (London, 1959).
Jones, F. "Heads and figures: a bequest" in Record of the Art Museum, Princeton University 32, no. 1 (1973), pp. 4 - 9.
Karageorghis, V., G. Merker, & J. Mertens. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art: Terracottas. (New Haven, 2018).
Kaufmann, C. Ägyptische Terrakotten der griechisch-römischen und koptischen Epoche, vorzugsweise aus der Oase El Faijum (Frankfurter Sammlung). (Cairo, 1913).
Keel, O. Gott weiblich: Eine verborgene Seite des biblischen Gottes. (Freiburg, 2008).
Kletter, R. The Judean Pillar-Figurines and the Archaeology of Ashera. BAR Internation 636. (Oxford, 1996).
Koldewey, R. Das Wieder Erstehende Babylon. (Leipzig, 1913).
Koster, A. Description of the Collections in the Rijksmuseum G.M. Kam at Nijmegen XIII, The Bronze Vessels 2. (Gelderland, 1997).
Kozloff, A (ed.). Animals in Ancient Art from the Leo Mildenberg Collection. (Cleveland, 1981).
Kozloff, A (ed.). More animals in ancient art: From the Leo Mildenberg collection. (Mainz, 1986).
Morris, D. The Art of Ancient Cyprus. (Oxford, 1985).
Muscarell, O., ed. Ladders to Heaven: Art Treasures from Lands of the Bible. (Toronto, 1981).
Press, M. The Iron Age Figurines of Ashkelon and Philistia. Ashkelon 4 (Winona Lake, IN, 2012).
Skupinska-Lovset, I. The Ustinov collection: Terracottas. (Oslo, 1978).
Spycket, A. The Human Form Divine: From the Collections of Elie Borowski. (Jerusalem, 2000).
Stevenson, W. The Grotesque Pathological Representations in Greek and Roman Art. (Ann Arbor, 1975).
Torok, L. Hellenistic and Roman Terracottas from Egypt. (Rome, 1995).
Tripathi, V. & Srivastava, A.K. The Indus Terracottas. (New Delhi, 2014).
Uhlenbrock, J. The Terracotta protomai from Gela: A Discussion of local Style in archaic Sicily. (Rome, 1989).
Urmila, S. Terracotta Art of Rajasthan (From Pre-Harappan and Harappan Times to the Gupta Period). (New Delhi, 1997).
Walters, H. Catalogue of the Terracottas in the British Museum. (London, 1903).
Young, J. & S. Young. Terracotta Figurines from Kourion in Cyprus. (Philadelphia, 1955).
Zwalf, W. ed. Buddhism Art and Faith. (New York, 1985).

Catalog current as of Monday, March 18, 2024.
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