Ancient Greek, Hellenistic Terracotta Tanagra goddess figure. 19 cm H. 4th century BC.






Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
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Tanagra goddess figure, hollow terracotta, 19 cm high, dating to the 4th century BC, in good condition, acquired in 2025 from a private collection in France.
Description from the seller
Tanagra Goddess Figure
Hollow terracotta representing a female deity dressed in cloth, standing
on a semicircular base.
Hellenistic Period, Tanagra, circa 4th century BC.
Height: 19 cm
CONDITION: Very good, see photos.
PROVENANCE: - R&G Sale, Marseille, February 28, 1974, lot no. 202 B (described as Hera).
The terracotta figures of Tanagra, originating from the city of the same name in Boeotia (central Greece), are one of the most delicate artistic expressions of the Hellenistic period (4th–2nd centuries BC). These small statuettes, made using molds and painted in vivid colors, mainly depicted young women in everyday poses, dressed in finely modeled tunics and elaborate hairstyles. There are also figures of children, elderly people, and mythological characters.
Unlike monumental sculptures, the Tanagra figures showed a more intimate and realistic approach to everyday life, reflecting ideals of grace, beauty, and tranquility. Their function was mainly decorative or funerary, placed in tombs as symbolic companions for the deceased.
These terracottas reveal the influence of the refined urban life of the time, and their style spread widely throughout the Hellenistic world, from Asia Minor to Egypt, marking a key stage in small-format sculpture.
Seller's Story
Tanagra Goddess Figure
Hollow terracotta representing a female deity dressed in cloth, standing
on a semicircular base.
Hellenistic Period, Tanagra, circa 4th century BC.
Height: 19 cm
CONDITION: Very good, see photos.
PROVENANCE: - R&G Sale, Marseille, February 28, 1974, lot no. 202 B (described as Hera).
The terracotta figures of Tanagra, originating from the city of the same name in Boeotia (central Greece), are one of the most delicate artistic expressions of the Hellenistic period (4th–2nd centuries BC). These small statuettes, made using molds and painted in vivid colors, mainly depicted young women in everyday poses, dressed in finely modeled tunics and elaborate hairstyles. There are also figures of children, elderly people, and mythological characters.
Unlike monumental sculptures, the Tanagra figures showed a more intimate and realistic approach to everyday life, reflecting ideals of grace, beauty, and tranquility. Their function was mainly decorative or funerary, placed in tombs as symbolic companions for the deceased.
These terracottas reveal the influence of the refined urban life of the time, and their style spread widely throughout the Hellenistic world, from Asia Minor to Egypt, marking a key stage in small-format sculpture.
Seller's Story
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The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
