BOEOTIA, CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA MID 4TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK TERRACOTTA LEDA AND THE SWAN
BOEOTIA, CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA MID 4TH CENTURY B.C.
Mold-made, depicted standing on an integral plinth, her right leg gently bent, wearing a long chiton, a loosely-draped himation and a pointed cap atop her wavy locks, holding a swan in her left arm and her himation in her right hand, preserving white slip and traces of red and blue pigment
8 11/16 in. (22 cm.) high

Provenance

Acquired by the family of the current owner, Lausanne, 1960s-1970s; thence by descent.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.

Brought to you by

G. Max Bernheimer

mbernheimer@christies.com +1 212 636 2247

Lot Essay

The addition of the swan indicates that this female figure is meant to be Leda, the Queen of Sparta and mother of Helen of Troy, whom Zeus seduced in the form of a swan. For other examples of the type see nos. 877-878 in R.A. Higgins, Catalogue of the Terracottas in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum.

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