Tanagras

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Crafts flourished during the Hellenistic age as the Greek world expanded, opening new markets to artisans and their employers. Precious materials like gold, silk, and ivory became more accessible, and a surge in private wealth created a demand for skills that could work with them. Alexandria in Egypt gained a reputation as a hub for luxury goods, including fine glass, faience, metalwork, and sculpture. Small-scale sculptures made from marble, bronze, and terracotta were produced throughout the Hellenistic world. Some pieces traveled far from their place of origin, promoting the widespread dissemination of new subjects and styles. It can be challenging to determine whether a particular small-scale sculpture was intended for sacred or secular use: similar objects have been found in tombs, sanctuaries, and private homes. During the Hellenistic period, many new types of terracotta figures emerged, often inspired by larger scale sculptures. These statuettes depicted the wealthy elite dressed in the latest fashions and preserved their original bright colors. They were mass-produced using molds, allowing for repetition of types with occasional variations added for uniqueness. Statuettes served both domestic and funerary purposes. The statuettes are known as "Tanagras" due to the discovery of many examples at Tanagra, a city in central Greece. However, similar figures were created in workshops throughout the Mediterranean region; regional differences can be identified through the type of clay used. See galleries 69 and 73 for additional examples of this type of statuette.