Archaic II

Neo-Cypriote Tambourine Figure

Limestone figure of a woman playing a tambourine, probably a votary or priestess; carved in the Eastern Neo-Cypriote style; she is depicted standing, wearing a long red robe extending to the feet, and possibly some sort of shawl over the upper body which grips the arms tightly; rounded face and large, oval, bulging eyes; her upturned red lips suggest a slight smile; around her neck is a necklace of long beads ending with a large pendant between the breasts; her hair falls in a mass to the shoulder with no detail; in her left hand, she holds a tambourine vertically against her chest, striking the disc with her right; the back of the figure is plain, with tool marks visible; traces of paint on the lips, dress, jewellery and instrument: parallel vertical stripes run on each side of the lower garment. The right shoulder and arm, and the tambourine, are damaged; scratches and abrasions to the surface; lower part of figure below knee level is restored; currently mounted on a modern limestone base. Dimensions: Height: 39.50 centimetres with block ; Height: 21 centimetres; Weight: 1.614 grammes; Width: 9.50 centimetres with block ; Width: 5.50 centimetres; Depth: 8 centimetres Object Type: figure Techniques: painted