Draped Female Figurine with Crossed Arms

Object/Artifact

-

Randolph College (Museum)

Name/Title

Draped Female Figurine with Crossed Arms

Entry/Object ID

RC.AC.06.02

Tags

Terracotta, Terracotta Votives

Description

A small, molded terracotta figurine depicting a seated or standing draped female figure, shown with arms crossed over her waist. The figure is rendered in stylized low to medium relief within a compact, roughly conical or domed silhouette. The head is surmounted by an arched halo-like molding or raised hairstyle/headdress. Facial features are visible but heavily worn and smoothed. The figure wears a traditional draped garment (himation or tunic) that falls in thick, diagonal folds across the torso and lower body. The base is hollowed underneath with an irregular, possibly broken in half, with a flared lower rim showing minor chips along the edges.

Use

Votive

Collection

Randolph College's Ancient Collections

Category

Terracotta Architectural; Religious, Terracotta Votives
Randolph College Ancient Collections

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Dr. Herbert Lispcomb

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown

Time Period

Ancient

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Figure, Religious

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Symbol, Religious

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Religious Objects

Nomenclature Class

Ceremonial Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

3.9 cm

Width

3.9 cm

Material

Terracotta

Condition

Reason for Exam

Inventory

Overall Condition

Fair

Condition Type

Fragmentary

Date Examined

Aug 4, 2026

Examined By

Emilie Bryant

Cleanliness

Uncleaned / In situ patina. Embedded soil particulate, grime, and localized mineral encrustations are present throughout the porous terracotta matrix, particularly concentrated within the recessed folds of the drapery and surrounding the hair/headband area.

Surface

Abrasion & Wear: Moderate to heavy mechanical abrasion across all high-relief areas, resulting in significant loss of sharp detail (facial features, fingers/hands, and delicate garment folds are heavily smoothed). Accretions/Deposits: Patchy reddish-orange oxidized soil deposits and pale mineral encrustations are visible along the central torso and base. Pigment/Slip: No clear original slip or polychromy remains visible to the naked eye due to surface degradation and soil cover.

Materials

Porous terracotta clay body. Stable, but moderately friable along exposed, unglazed edges and fractures.

Structure

Structurally sound as a molded object with a missing broken half. The upper silhouette remains complete without major breaks or missing structural limbs in the upper portion. The lower hollow base shows minor microchipping along the flared edge, but no active structural cracking or unstable fractures are observed.

Notes

High-relief facial features and anatomical details show significant smoothing consistent with soil burial and historical handling wear.

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Donated by Dr. Herbert Lipscomb

Acquisition Method

Found

Created By

[email protected]

Create Date

August 4, 2026