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Fragment of a Figure

Creator Name

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Unknown

Cultural Context

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Christian

Date

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Byzantine Empire

About the work

Curationist LogoCurationist Object Description
This fragment is one of several destroyed terracotta fragments found in Coptic Christian homes at Kharga Oasis. The figure’s shape, with a long cylindrical body, distinct breasts, and pedestal-like feet, echoes other ancient Mediterranean fertility figures. The hand-molded figure is believed to have been destroyed on purpose. Iconoclasm, or the destruction of religious images, ties into several ancient religions in which old figures were ceremoniously discarded to make way for new idols.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description
Statuette

Work details

"--" = no data available
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Title

Fragment of a Figure

Creator

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Unknown

Worktype

Ceramics

Cultural Context

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Christian
Coptic

Material

Earthenware

Dimensions

Overall: 9 5/8 x 7 3/16 x 3 13/16 in. (24.4 x 18.3 x 9.7 cm);
depth: 9.652centimetre;
height: 24.384centimetre;
width: 18.288centimetre

Technique

--

Language

--

Date

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Byzantine Empire
4th–7th century

Provenance

Rogers Fund, 1925

Style Period

--

Rights

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Public Domain
Public Domain

Inscription

--

Location

Kharga Oasis, Byzantine Egypt

Subjects

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Figure; Woman; Nude; Fertility
Women

Topic

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Fertility

Curationist Metadata Contributors

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Amanda Acosta

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Unknown, Fragment of a Figure, 4th–7th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art. This fragment is one of several destroyed terracotta fragments found in Coptic Christian homes at Kharga Oasis. Public Domain.

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