Altes Museum: Class and mass. The world of Greek clay figures

Clay figurines were a widespread mass product in antiquity, but they always included artistically crafted and valuable individual pieces. Many of the colourfully painted figures look almost as if they had been cut out of life. In the 19th century, they were dismissed as mere decoration, but today we know that in ancient Greece they played an important role in people’s everyday lives. With 56 selected exhibits, the Collection of Classical Antiquities provides an insight into the diverse world of ancient clay figurines, but also into its otherwise hidden rich holdings of this genre. By focusing on their intended use, new perspectives on this often underestimated medium are opened up at the same time.

Image caption: Weibliche Sitzfiguren, 510-480 v. Chr., © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Antikensammlung / Johannes Kramer