Ancient Central Asia, Indus Valley, Mehrgarh (also Meghargh) people, ca. 3500 to 2800 BCE. A set of two hand-built pottery female "Venus" figures. Each figure boasts a slender waist above ample hips, angular shoulders tracing down to bent arms, and globular breasts covered with broad collars, one with incised concentric striations and the other with painted yellow frets. The characteristically elongated heads are defined by impressed eyes, a perky nose, a slender mouth, and an elegant veil on top. Figurines like this example are found throughout the region, although their meaning is unclear - most female figures found by largely male archaeologists of the late 19th and early 20th century CE were immediately given the title of "fertility idol," but more recent interpretations suggest that these figures probably had much more nuanced and varied symbolism. For example, she may represent a goddess, a matriarch, or a worshipper. Size of largest (striated broad collar): 1.625" W x 4.5" H (4.1 cm x 11.4 cm); 5" H (12.7 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-Richard Wagner collection, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA, acquired in the 1960s
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#136999
Condition
Both figures professionally repaired from multiple large pieces with light resurfacing and overpainting along break lines. Minor nicks to limbs, bodies, and heads, with fading to original pigmentation, and light encrustations. Nice earthen deposits throughout.