Pre-Columbian, Atacama Desert, ca. 3000 BCE. A very rare sun-baked clay figurine with incised surface details. The figure has narrow, diagonal eyes, small nostrils and mouth, and incised lines forming a hairstyle that resembles an ear of corn. The head is elongated and rounded. The body is roughly trapezoidal, narrowing from the shoulders; it has raised breasts and incised lines that form clearly female genitalia. The legs are short and end in nubs. This is a fascinating figure, and an incredibly rare one from the New World. The meaning of a figure like this can only be speculated upon; so-called "Venus Figures" in the ancient Near East have been seen as fertility charms or celebrations of female sexuality, but they truly are a mystery. Size: 1.5" W x 3.5" H (3.8 cm x 8.9 cm)
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950 to1960s
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#123355
Condition
Very fragile with slight flaking of clay surface. Piece has been stabilized with Paraloid.