Antique Finds: The Caryatid

I have dipped my toe into the world of auction buying, and I’m not sure that I’ll be quite the same (or at least my wallet won’t!)

I found this beauty using LiveAuctioneers, which is basically a platform to participate in auctions around the world. So far, I’ve stuck fairly close to home. Most auction houses don’t ship so it is definitely easier to shop close to home. I was able to check my lady out in the auction preview (where you get to go in person to peruse the lots). She was smaller than I had pictured, but I thought she was super cool and on the day of bidding, I was the only one who put in an offer.

This is what is known as a caryatid - basically a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support. (That top column on her head makes her a caryatid and not just a sculpture). The best known example are at the Acropolis in Athens. Then during the Renaissance, the practice of incorporating caryatids into building was revived, and a favorite interior spot for them was decorating a fireplace.