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Call for Papers: Terracottas in Motion

An Interdisciplinary, Cross-Cultural Zoom Colloquium. Held under the auspices of The Association for Coroplastic Studies. October 20, 2022
Maya Muratov and Jaimee Uhlenbrock

Abstract

This is a call for papers for Terracottas in Motion, an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural zoom colloquium to be held under the auspices of the Association for Coroplastic Studies on Thursday, October 20, 2022.

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Motion is conventionally thought of as an act or process of change in time or across space, a displacement of a physical system that is measurable. Terracottas, on the other hand, typically are inherently static sculptural objects for which the term motion might be seen as contradictory. Yet it will be shown that the concept of motion as a physical change from one point, or moment, to another can indeed be applied to terracottas themselves, or to their role in given contexts, and that these applications can result in meaningful and novel dialogues.

By the term terracottas we intend those mainly small-scale, portable sculptures in clay, either in-the-round or in relief, that often, but not exclusively, were produced in quantity for what is believed to have been a popular market in many ancient material cultures. Consisting primarily of figurines, the term terracottas also comprises a wide categorical range that includes reliefs, masks, busts, and protomai, anatomical models, architectural and transport models, musical instruments, as well as models of objects, such as furniture, food, and clothing, all in sculptural form. These sculptures present a wide spectrum of imagery whereby motion is depicted or implied, or where the potential for movement invites interactive responses. Explorations into the modalities of the broad spatial or local movement of terracottas, or the representation of active or inferred motion, can open new pathways into an understanding of the varieties of use for which this wide-spread form of sculpture played a role in the material cultures of ancient worlds.

We invite contributions by scholars in all fields dealing with portable figurative terracottas that either represent motion directly, suggest it by virtue of the depositional contexts of figurative terracottas, or imply it by means of moveable parts. The terracottas under consideration can be from any pre-modern civilization and from any geographic area, including, but not limited to, the ancient Mediterranean and adjacent lands, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. We expect that such a cross disciplinary exploration will reveal not only similarities in intent across cultures, but that it also will shed greater light on the involvement of motion by terracotta imagery as it functioned in ritual, commercial, and everyday activities, as well as how terracottas in motion can be viewed through an ethnographic or sociological lens.

Potential contributions should explore any of the following multiple facets of the concept of terracottas in motion.

      • Terracottas and travel:

  • This can be manifested/documented through shipwrecks containing terracottas, or through the finds of terracottas on the sea floor;

  • Appearances of terracottas (in bulk or of specific types) in networks distant from their centers of production; their spatial distribution;

  • Representations of travel in terracotta imagery by models of carts, horseriders, boats, etc.;

  • Evidence for the travel of molds for terracotta sculpture from one production center to another;

  • Evidence for the travel, or transfer, of motifs across regions or wider geographic areas;

  • Short-distance movement via commercial activity, as documented by possible shop or warehouse contexts, to where terracottas were moved from production sites;

  • Movement in terracottas as reflective of ritual activity that illustrates specific placement of terracottas by the user; ritual carrying, ritual breakage, ritual deposition, etc.;

  • Terracotta representations implying movement from one place to the other, such as in imagery that depicts carrying or offering;

  • Movement present in iconographic choices, such as in representations of walking, running, dancing, game playing, etc., and riding of all kinds, on horses, dolphins, lions, swans, bulls, war elephants, mythical beasts, etc.;

  • Interpretations of movement, such as is suggested by models of feet, boots, or shoes;

  • Movement as implied by gestures;

  • Interactive terracottas that in whole or in part were moved by the hand of a user;

  • Terracottas designed actively to move in space on their own, such as those that were suspended.

We ask that you to submit a detailed abstract of your potential contribution to this colloquium of ca. 500 words that briefly introduces your material and illustrates the importance of the suggestion of motion as it is reflected in your choice of terracottas. Your final paper must not exceed 20 minutes for its delivery. An additional 10 minutes will be allotted to each paper for a question-and-answer period. Please send your abstracts by March 15, 2022 to Maya Muratov (mmuratov@adelphi.edu) and Jaimee Uhlenbrock (uhlenbrj@hawkmail.newpaltz.edu). It is anticipated that the accepted papers will be published in a single volume.

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