Moulage et surmoulage. Réflexions sur la production en masse des terres cuites dans l’Égypte gréco-romaine

Abstract

Terracotta figures were produced in large numbers in Egypt during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. The introduction of integral moulding, a real technical revolution, made it possible to mass-produce them to meet new needs both in Alexandria and in the hinterland (or chôra). In this paper we will focus on the technical processes used to mass-produce the figurines, particularly remoulding. We will also examine the possible loss of craftsmanship over time and the potential impact this may have had on the consumption of these artefacts.

Keywords

• Moulding
• Graeco-Roman Egypt
• Remoulding
• Terracottas
• technè