Figure of a comic actor at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

This terracotta collection dates back to the archaic period. The earliest pieces in this series are simple and hand-crafted; they evolved into elaborate works, produced from multiple moulds over time. Boeotia, particularly Tanagra, led the way in developing new terracotta designs, techniques and styles during the archaic period. Later, in the classical and Hellenistic periods, fine terracottas were crafted in Corinth, Athens and other areas as well. The mainland Greek 'Tanagra' style originated at Athens before spreading to the entire Hellenistic world. Most of these terracottas were discovered in tombs, where they served as offerings to the gods of the underworld or provided comfort for the deceased. Similar figurines were also dedicated in sanctuaries or used to decorate homes in later times. Unless otherwise stated, all terracottas in this series were created using one or more moulds. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory. Through Scan the World, we're building a digital library of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the world that are available to the public for free. Scan the World is an open-source community project; if you have interesting items nearby and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)