“The cup-bearer”

In addition to the numerous female figurines, Cycladic sculptors also produced a series of elegant compositions of “special form”. Among them are standing and seated males and females engaged in an activity (musicians, flute-players and lyre-players), and groups of two or three figures. Most date to an early phase of the Early Cycladic II period (2700 – 2400/2300 BC).

The ‘cup-bearer’ belongs to a rare seated type. In fact, it is the only intact example of its kind to date. Although the gender is not indicated, it is considered to be a male because it is shown “in action”. The figure sits on a marble stool and holds a cup in its right hand, poised as if ready to propose a toast or perform a libation. Such figures succeed in conveying movement and action by conquering the three-dimensional space and time.