Etruscan women’s clothing and its decoration: the polychrome gypsum statue from the ‘Isis tomb’ at Vulci

The gypsum figure from the so-called Isis Tomb at Vulci (Italy) represents a woman or goddess with one hand extended to give or receive an offering (British Museum 1850,0227.1). Dating probably to about 575–550 bc, the figure wears a long tunic with the remains of a painted border at the hem, a belt that was once gilded, a cloak and sandals that were originally painted red. Evidence of very fine painted decoration survives on the borders of the garments, in particular towards the base of the figure, and is partially visible to the naked eye. In an attempt to reconstruct the painted border of the tunic, technical imaging (infrared-reflected, ultraviolet- and visible-induced luminescence imaging) and Raman spectroscopic examination of microscopic samples were undertaken. The visualization of the inverted lotus embroidery on the hem of the tunic using technical imaging suggests a new interpretation of its pattern. The results of the analysis are discussed in light of the contemporaneous archaeological evidence for Etruscan clothing. Finally, a reconstruction of the shape and pattern of the cloak is suggested.