Archaic Terracotta Statuette of a Dwarf-like Deity

Culture: Greek

Period: Late 6th century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 7.3 cm high

Price: 1 600 Euro

Ref: 2453

Provenance: German collection Schlauf-Lensing prior to 1980. Thence with Antikenkabinett Gackstätter with the inventory number 12273. In a Munich collection since 2005. With the original certificate of Antikenkabinett Gackstätter.

Condition: A small chip on the back, otherwise intact.

Description: Terracotta statuette made of two forms of a dwarf-like, crouching deity (“Pataikos”) with archaic features. The unclothed god stands on a rectangular plinth, he has his hands placed on the fat belly, the round rear far protruding to the back. The face with the typical almond-shaped eyes, the hair long with horizontal curls in style of Greek kouroi. The short legs are bent. The statuette is a local interpretation of the Egyptian god Ptah who was welcomed in the 6th century into the Cypriot and Greek Pantheon. He was awarded abilities of healing and medicine. See for the type of statuettes from Samos and Rhodes in the British Museum with the registration number 1886,0401.1441, as well as 1842,0728.754. Also, in: F. W. Hamdorf „Die figürlichen Terrakotten der Staatlichen Antikensammlung München I“, München 2014, Nr. C40.