Tanagras

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Crafts thrived in the Hellenistic age as Greek expansion opened up new markets to skilled artisans and their employers. Precious materials like gold, silk, and ivory became more accessible, and rising private wealth sparked a demand for expertise in working with them. Alexandria in Egypt emerged as a hub for luxury goods production, including fine glass, faience, metalwork, and sculpture. Small-scale sculptures crafted from marble, bronze, and terracotta were created throughout the Hellenistic world, with some pieces traveling far to promote new subjects and styles. It's often challenging to determine whether a small-scale sculpture was designed for sacred or secular use, as similar objects have been found in tombs, sanctuaries, and private homes. During the Hellenistic period, many innovative types of terracotta figures were created, inspired by larger-scale sculptures. These statuettes depicted the wealthy elite dressed in the latest fashions and preserved their original bright colors. They served both domestic and funerary purposes and were mould-made to enable repetition with added attributes for variety. Nicknamed "Tanagras," these figures were discovered primarily at Tanagra, a city in central Greece, but similar workshops existed throughout the Mediterranean, distinguished by regional clay types.