Boeotian Plank Idol of a Goddess

Culture: Greek/Boeotian

Period: Mid 6th century B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 16.7 cm high

Price: 900 Euro

Ref: 2554

Provenance: German private collection J. Gutbrod (died in 2017), acquired in the 1960s to the 1990s in the German art market. Thence by descent to Micaela Gutbrod, Munich.

Condition: Part of the volute missing, the head is reattached without missing parts. The black paint is only preserved in the face and head.

Description: Plank idol with a flat body formed by hand, merging at the bottom to an oval foot ring and on top to a cylindrical neck. The bird-like face with a beak-shaped nose and red painted eyes. The figure wears a cupped polos at the back of the head identifying her as a goddess. On the forehead a large, inwardly rolled volute, suggesting a quiff. The short arms are protruding on the sides, slightly bent forward and tapering. On the sides long, wavy hair strands cascade on the sides to the shoulder. On the back the collection number “13” is written with a pencil. Idols such as the present one possibly represent goddesses (Demeter or Hera). Due to their headdress they are also called Papades. See for the typus the statuette in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with the Accession Number 52.11.1.