Greek, Boetian, ca. 575 to 550 BCE. A wonderful hand-built terracotta horse and rider of a characteristically abstract style. Both the rider and the horse are decorated with red striations. The characteristic simplicity of this figurine is notable - legs and tail are comprised of simple tapering cylinders, as is the rider's body. In fact the rider solely possesses a torso, long arms and legs, and a minimalist head, while the horse's facial features are barely discernible. This said, the artist succeeded in creating an immediately recognizable subject despite the lack of details - truly capturing the spirit of this horse and rider through very fundamental shapes and patterns, rather than a naturalistic representation. What's more, the stripes on the figure's and the horse's body, add interest and perhaps a sense of kinetic movement to the pair. Size: 4.75" L x 4.125" H (12.1 cm x 10.5 cm)
Terracotta figurines were produced throughout Greece; however, they were particularly popular in certain areas like Boeotia. Horses, whether with or without riders, were endearing subjects for Boeotian artisans, and such figurines were oftentimes left as votive burial offerings in graves. Horses were popular because they indicated wealth for the Greeks of this period. Hence, such terracotta horses were most likely left to reinforce the elite status of the deceased.
Cf: Reynold Alleyne Higgins, Greek Terracottas (London: Methuen & Co 1967): 46, plate 19E; Hutton , C.A. 1899. Greek Terracotta Statuettes (London: Seeley and Co. Ltd. 1899): 1-13; Higgins, Greek Terracottas , xlix-l; Grace, Archaic Sculpture in Boeotia , Figs. 47, 49, and 51. Higgins, Catalogue of Terracottas in the British Museum no. 770.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.