Tanagra figurine

Tanagra figurine
a small terra-cotta statuette produced from the late 4th to the 3rd century B.C. in Tanagra, Boeotia, and found chiefly in tombs.
[1890-95]

* * *

      any of the small terra-cotta figures dating primarily from the 3rd century BC, and named after the site in Boeotia, in east-central Greece, where they were found. Well-dressed young women in various positions, usually standing or sitting, are the main subject matter of the statuettes. On occasion the figures pull their garments around them closely, veiling the face, or they may wear a hat or hold a fan or mirror. The Tanagra figurines were all manufactured with molds, but the use of separate molds in combination (different arms, heads) lent interesting variation. The figures were all originally covered with a white coating and then painted. The garments were generally bright shades—blue, red, pink, violet, yellow, and brown. The flesh was reddish or pinkish, the hair auburn, the lips red, and the eyes blue. Gilt and black were used for details. The authentic statuettes that survive are missing their white coating and bright paint. On their discovery in the 19th century they became enormously popular and were extensively and expertly forged, even with paint.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Tanagra figurine — TOCleftThe Tanagra figurines were a mold cast type of Greek terracotta figurines produced from the later fourth century BCE, primarily in the Boeotian town of Tanagra. They were coated with a liquid white slip before firing and were sometimes… …   Wikipedia

  • tanagra figurine — noun see tanagra II, 1 * * * a small terra cotta statuette produced from the late 4th to the 3rd century B.C. in Tanagra, Boeotia, and found chiefly in tombs. Also, Tanagra figure. [1890 95] …   Useful english dictionary

  • TANAGRA — Ville de Béotie, située à l’est de Thèbes, célèbre pour ses ateliers qui produisirent, à partir de TANAGRA 340 TANAGRA 330 jusque vers la fin du TANAGRA IIIe siècle, de nombreuses séries de figurines en terre cuite moulée. Le répertoire de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • figurine — [ figyrin ] n. f. • 1625; peint. 1578; it. figurina, dimin. de figura ♦ Statuette de petite dimension (bilboquet, magot, poupée, poussah). Les tanagras, figurines de terre cuite découvertes à Tanagra. Figurine de Noël. ⇒ 2. santon. « Les… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Tanagra — The tanager genus Tangara is often misunderstood to be Tanagra . Infobox Greek Dimos name = Tanagra name local = Τανάγρα periph = Central Greece prefec = Boeotia province = population = 4134 population as of = 2001 population ref =… …   Wikipedia

  • Tanagra — /tan euh greuh, teuh nag reuh/, n. a town in ancient Greece, in Boeotia: Spartan victory over the Athenians 457 B.C. * * * Ancient town, Boeotia, eastern central Greece. First occupied by an Athenian clan, it became the chief town of the eastern… …   Universalium

  • tanagra — I. ˈtanəgrə, təˈnagrə noun Usage: capitalized Etymology: New Latin : a genus of small fruit eating tropical American tanagers having variegated coloring and short tails and broad gapes see euphonia II. noun ( s) …   Useful english dictionary

  • Tanagra (ville) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Tanagra. Femme tenant un masque de théâtre, figurine de Tanagra, v. 325 300 av. J. C. Tanagra (en …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Tanagra —    In ancient Greek art, a figurine of fired clay. Although these small scale statues were first made in Athens and were soon being fabricated through out the Mediterranean world, they take their name from Tanagra, an ancient city in Boeotia, the …   Glossary of Art Terms

  • Tan|a|gra figurine — «TAN uh gruh», a terra cotta figurine found in the ruins of the ancient Greek city of Tanagra …   Useful english dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”