Dancing Figures
Figurine
19th century (made)
19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Representations of Greek dance in 18th and 19th century painting, sculpture, painted vases and reliefs were inspired by archaeological sources. Classical images were considered noble and had the added appeal of close-clinging draperies revealing the female figure. This porcelain figurine is one of a pair which were probably designed to stand together as a mantelpiece decoration, on either side of an imposing classically-inspired clock.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Greek and Roman 'Attitudes' or poses performed privately by Emma Hamilton (c.1765-1815), and other artistic representations of Greek dancers, gave an impetus to an already popular form of decoration and by the end of the 19th century serious investigation was being undertaken by Maurice Emmanuel and others into the reconstruction of Greek dance. The dancer Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) would later become inspired by barefoot Greek dance and its revealing draperies.
At the beginning of the 19th century the Greek and Roman 'Attitudes' or poses performed privately by Emma Hamilton (c.1765-1815), and other artistic representations of Greek dancers, gave an impetus to an already popular form of decoration and by the end of the 19th century serious investigation was being undertaken by Maurice Emmanuel and others into the reconstruction of Greek dance. The dancer Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) would later become inspired by barefoot Greek dance and its revealing draperies.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Dancing Figures (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Porcelain and gold enamel |
| Brief description | Dancing figures in Greek costume. Porcelain and gold enamel, 19th century, probably Continental |
| Physical description | Hard paste white porcelain figure group on integral oval four-footed base of two classically dressed, Greek-style female dancers. They wear flowing gold (gilt) Grecian draperies, one has a gold band in her hair. The oval base is decorated with swagged, gilt garlands modelled in relief around the circumference, and is gilded on the top and lower rim. The figures stand on the diagonal, in opposition to each other, with their heads facing back over their inside shoulders. They both stand on one foot with their arms held outwards, the girl on the left on her left foot, and the girl on the right on her right foot; one figure is framed in a billowing stole held by the second figure. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | '8Z' (Maker's mark on base) |
| Credit line | Cyril W. Beaumont Bequest |
| Object history | The figure came to the Museum as part of the Cyril Beaumont Bequest. |
| Summary | Representations of Greek dance in 18th and 19th century painting, sculpture, painted vases and reliefs were inspired by archaeological sources. Classical images were considered noble and had the added appeal of close-clinging draperies revealing the female figure. This porcelain figurine is one of a pair which were probably designed to stand together as a mantelpiece decoration, on either side of an imposing classically-inspired clock. At the beginning of the 19th century the Greek and Roman 'Attitudes' or poses performed privately by Emma Hamilton (c.1765-1815), and other artistic representations of Greek dancers, gave an impetus to an already popular form of decoration and by the end of the 19th century serious investigation was being undertaken by Maurice Emmanuel and others into the reconstruction of Greek dance. The dancer Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) would later become inspired by barefoot Greek dance and its revealing draperies. |
| Associated object | S.872-1981 (Object) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.871-1981 |
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| Record created | November 22, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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