Cycladic Leg Fragment

Cycladic Leg Fragment

Early Cycladic II Circa 2700 - 2300 Century B.C.

Material

Marble

Dimensions

Height 17 cm

Provenance

– Private collection, Geneva, Switzerland, formed during the 1990s.
– Michael Ward, New York, USA.
– Private collection R.L., Belgium.

Art Loss Register Certificat S0010458

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Description

This fragment preserves the lower portion of a Cycladic folded-arm figurine (FAF), showing the feet and part of the lower legs. The legs are separated by a deep vertical groove, and the toes are carefully incised, a characteristic detail of the Spedos variety of the Early Cycladic II period. The form is symmetrical and compact, with the feet aligned and slightly inclined downward, suggesting the figure was meant to lie flat rather than stand upright.

The surface retains traces of the fine polishing typical of Cycladic marble sculpture, emphasizing the smooth, geometric abstraction that defines this artistic tradition.

The fragment’s style corresponds to the Spedos type, named after the cemetery on Naxos where similar examples were first identified. Spedos figurines are known for their elegant proportions, subtle modeling, and attention to anatomical detail—especially in the rendering of the feet and legs.

Cycladic figurines were carved across the Cycladic islands during the Early Bronze Age, primarily for funerary or ritual use. Most have been recovered from graves, although examples also appear in domestic and sanctuary contexts. Their precise function remains uncertain, but they likely held symbolic or religious significance, perhaps representing fertility, life, or the deceased.