Marble female figure

Technical analysis: Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence examination, optical microscopy
This fine-grained white marble figure is complete and intact with no sign of significant damage or previous structural treatment. The backward-tilted head is lyre-shaped with a rounded chin, flat crown, and wide triangular relief nose set in the middle of the face. A light incision at the back of the head appears to suggest a squared-off hair paint ghost. The short thick cylindrical neck flows smoothly into sloping rounded shoulders with arms folded left over right indicated by shallow incisions. No breasts, fingers, or pubic triangle are indicated A wide shallow groove delineates the joined legs with outsplayed feet without toes. The plain smooth back is flat without buttocks. The knees are slightly bent and the feet are slightly raised on the toes.


This figure has a slightly yellow saturated appearance as if a coating has been applied overall. The stone is not highly polished and tool marks are readily visible under low magnification. Numerous light brown deposits are found scattered on the surface. A bright white scratch is found on the right shoulder and a smaller scratch is found at the top of the head. Small dings from mechanical impact are found at the back of the head, along both upper arms and at the back of the feet. No visual evidence of pigments was found on the surface. A striking aspect of this figure is the sharpness of all the edges which is particularly noticeable on the front in the recess carved between the feet.


Georgios Gavalas, Sandy MacGillivray, J-F Lapérouse, Dorothy Abramitis, Federico Carò and Elizabeth Hendrix