
Late Bronze Age II
Terracotta statuette of woman with bird face
This figurine is typical of Cypriot coroplastic art of the Late Cypriot II and III periods. The type, with the pubic triangle accentuated and the breasts clearly shown, is likely of Syrian origin, but Cypriot sculptors created their own variations. H. 6 1/8 in. (15.6 cm)
Classification
- Object type
- Terracotta figurine
- Material
- Clay
- Date
- 1450 - 1200 BC
- Place of production
- Cyprus
- Findspot
- Nicosia-Ayia Paraskevi
Collection
Provenance
- Said to be from Nicosia-Ayia Paraskevi
References
- Cesnola, Luigi Palma di. 1894. A Descriptive Atlas of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Vol. 2. pl. II.8, Boston: James R. Osgood and Company.Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1895. The Terracottas and Pottery of the Cesnola Collection of Cypriote Antiquities in Halls 4 and 15. no. 58, p. 6, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Myres, John L. 1914. Handbook of the Cesnola Collection of Antiquities from Cyprus. no. 2011, p. 335, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Orphanides, Andreas G. 1983. ""Bronze Age Anthropomorphic Figurines in the Cesnola Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art." Master's Diss.." Master's Diss. no. 8, p. 11, pl. VIII.Karageorghis, Vassos. 1993. The Coroplastic Art of Ancient Cyprus, Vol. 2. no. A(iv)5, p. 8, pl. VI.2, Nicosia: Foundation Anastasios G. Leventis.Karageorghis, Vassos, Joan Mertens, and Marice E. Rose. 2000. Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Cesnola Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. no. 11, pp. 24-25, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Lightfoot, Christopher S. 2000. "The New Cypriot Galleries at The Metropolitan Museum of Art." Minerva, 11(3): pp. 21-23, fig. 17.Karageorghis, Vassos. 2002. Early Cyprus: Crossroads of the Mediterranean. pl. 109, Los Angeles, California: J. Paul Getty Museum.Picón, Carlos A. 2007. Art of the Classical World in the Metropolitan Museum of Art: Greece, Cyprus, Etruria, Rome no. 266, pp. 229, 458, New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Karageorghis, Vassos, Gloria Merker, and Joan R. Mertens. 2016. The Cesnola Collection of Cypriot Art : Terracottas. no. 8, pp. 8, 252, Online Publication, [CD-Rom 2004], New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.Bombardieri, Luca and Elisa Panero. 2021. Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations : exhibition catalog p.139, fig. 5, London: DeArtcom.
Identifiers
- Accession no.
- 74.51.1541, Metropolitan Museum of Art
- In catalogues
- Myres 1914, no. 2011
- Karageorghis 2000, no. 11
Corrections and additions
Do you know this object?
We are always looking for more of an object's history: who owned it, where it was sold or shown, and where it was published.
We would like to hear about
- Earlier owners, sales or exhibitions
- Publications that illustrate or mention it
- Where it is now, if it has moved
- Better photographs, or a close parallel
- A mistake in what we say about it
Messages are read by us alone and kept confidential, unless the law requires otherwise. Tell us if you would like to be thanked by name on the page.
Similar pieces
Terracotta statuette of woman with bird faceMetropolitan Museum of Art
Terracotta statuette of woman with bird faceMetropolitan Museum of Art
Terracotta statuette of woman with bird faceMetropolitan Museum of Art
Female naked terracotta idol with flat headMedelhavsmuseet (Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities)
Late Cypriot female figurine with bird-face nursing a childAshmolean Museum
Terracotta Female FigureBritish Museum
Base Ring Female FigureBritish Museum
FigureBritish Museum
Astarte FigurineLarnaca Museum
Astarte FigurineLarnaca Museum
Astarte FigureLarnaca Museum
Female idol of the base ring goodsVienna Museum
Female idol of the base ring goodsVienna Museum
Standing female votive figureOntario Museum
Base Ring mude female figurine, possibly representing a goddess, e.g. AstarteAshmolean Museum
Assorted Astarte FigurinesCyprus Museum, Nicosia
Base Ring figurine of naked femaleAshmolean Museum
Seated Terracotta FigurineCyprus Museum, Nicosia
Terracotta figurineAyia Irini-Palaeokastro
FigurineMedelhavsmuseet (Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities)