Terracotta Statuette of a Woman in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 2009

Terracotta Statuette of a Woman
Greek, South Italian, Tarentine, 3rd century BC

Accession # 11.212.16

Standing draped women represent one of the most common types of terracotta figurine from the fourth to the second century BC throughout the Greek world. Recent studies have suggested that they are not simply ladies of fashion but that their meaning has to do with marriage. The variant with one arm akimbo may have a specific social connotation.

Text from the Metropolitan Museum of Art label.