Marble female figure

Technical Analysis: Multiband imaging, optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy





This nearly intact, tripartite seated figure has a long cylindrical neck and a broad ellipsoidal head with a conical top. At the side of the head there is a curl rendered in low relief. A smooth groove separates the head from the neck. The body is comprised of a trapezoidal, thin upper torso with flat rounded shoulders and a voluminous, rectangular lower part. The arms, bent at the elbows, are rendered as elongated volumes in low relief but are not delineated from the chest. The forearms are angled toward the upper torso. The chest is flat, the belly long and rounded. A curved groove delineates the belly from the lower part of the figure that protrudes outward. This area is considerably flatter than the upper part. Two vertical volumes in low relief indicate the lower legs. Short, incised lines indicate the toes. The bottom of the figure is carved flat. There are some traces of striated tool markings on the surface and a v-shaped groove at the top of the right shoulder; both are unusual for a piece that has been smoothened in most areas.





This is a unique hybrid type of seated figure, and the combination of both schematic and naturalistic elements indicates that the object requires further analysis. Some of these features are found in violin-shaped figures and in figures of the Plastiras type. Pat Getz-Gentle in her publication presents various general arguments for its incorporation into Cycladic sculpture. L.2022.38.83, also in the Stern Collection of Cycladic Art, is the only other known parallel.





The figure is carved from an extremely fine-grained (maximum grain size = 0.3 mm) marble. There is a mended break at the base of the neck and an older shallow loss at the top of the back of the head. The sides of both arms and on the top of the left shoulder show some signs of weathering. Numerous accretions cover the front of the figure with heavier encrustations on the bottom and back. Red particles, likely iron oxides, were found in the encrustation surrounding a recent-looking gouge on the upper left side of the face, under the right arm and on the back of the figure. Blue and black particles embedded in the accretion on the back and under the left arm, and the green discoloration along the side of the left arm may be staining from a mount. Diffuse patches of orange discoloration on the belly and legs are iron-rich stains. There are many fine cracks and scattered scratches, nicks and bruising overall.




Georgios Gavalas, Dorothy Abramitis and Federico Carò