Seated Draped Woman

3rd-2nd century BCE · Sculpture

May one see it?

Not receiving at present

Harvard Art Museums

Cambridge, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 9 days ago
In this state since: Sep 27, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

Seated young woman, draped. Her hair is drawn back in a complicated hairdo, similar to “melon” style: separated into four sections, twisted, and brought back into a small bun at the nape. The two center sections are crowned by smaller buns or ornaments (likely ivy berries), with separate locks of curly hair framing the face. Small head, looks down to the left. Regular features. Oval face with a small forehead. Small eyes with both lids rendered in relief; small, straight nose; small, closed mouth. She wears a light chiton that covers her right shoulder but seems to fall off the left. A thicker himation or mantle covers her lap and legs.

Read on

Sitting on a rectangular stool with a cushion, her right arm falls next to the body with her hand resting on the seat. Her left arm is bent at the elbow and rests upon her thigh, holding something flat in her hand, possibly a mirror (now missing). Her left leg is up, with the foot placed on what appears to be a footrest; the larger right foot lands on the figure’s base. She wears plain shoes.

Would have been painted originally, now only traces of white ground extant.

Hollow. Mold-made in two bivalve molds, likely plaster. No venthole. Detailing of hair incised. The back is modeled with care; here we get a sense of the woman’s weight won the stool’s cushion. Attached to a rectangular, narrow base; the stool is placed at an angle, lending the otherwise stiff figure a bit of dynamism.

The clay is bright brick-red and finely levigated; hard-fired.

Harvard Art Museums