Greece, Hellenistic Period, ca. 3rd century BCE. A terracotta mold used to create pottery statues of a standing winged Erote - perhaps Eros, the equivalent of the Roman Cupid, with a flowing chiton, child-like face, and broad feathery wings, the mythological representations of love, lust, passion, and sexual intercourse. Having a stable base, this mold would have likely produced figures able to stand independently and without the necessity of an additional base. Erotes, which were a group of winged deities under the command of the goddess Aphrodite, were a central image in Hellenistic art as the portrayals of the many facets of human sexuality. Perhaps meant as votive offerings to Aphrodite, these figures would have not been in short supply and high-quality statuettes would have commanded a high but reasonable price. Size: 2" L x 3.375" W x 7" H (5.1 cm x 8.6 cm x 17.8 cm).

Provenance: ex-private Swiss collection

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#124209

Surface wear commensurate with age, minor mineral encrustations within body cavity, and earthen deposits throughout, else intact and very good overall.