Architectural Brick with Dancer in Relief

A bearded dancer strides across a diamond-shaped terracotta tile, arms raised high and body twisting through the air. Long swirling scarves and drapery trail around him, carved with fine parallel grooves and curling cloud-like forms. The molded relief keeps its warm slip coating.

Look closer: A small cloud-like curl of drapery sits at the right edge of the figure's body.

Artist

Unknown

Date

before 870

Medium

molded terracotta with slip coating

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Size

2800 × 3400 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Cleveland Museum of Art, Gift of C. T. Loo