Indus Valley Mehrgarh Pottery Venus Figure
Ancient Central Asia, Indus Valley, Mehrgarh, ca. 3500 to 2800 BCE. A hand-built pottery seated female "Venus" figure with a slender waist above ample hips and extended legs, a heart-shaped torso with voluptuous breasts below a broad collar, and visage presenting characteristically pierce circular eyes, a prominent, beak-like nose, no mouth, and a dramatic headdress or coiffure with twin spiraled conical forms flanking her face. Figurines like this 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 - perhaps representing goddesses, matriarchs, or worshippers. Size: 1.15" W x 3.5" H (2.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#154205
Condition Report: Part of headdress is repaired. Otherwise in excellent condition with great preservation of form and light deposits.
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Ancient Central Asia, Indus Valley, Mehrgarh, ca. 3500 to 2800 BCE. A hand-built pottery seated female "Venus" figure with a slender waist above ample hips and extended legs, a heart-shaped torso with voluptuous breasts below a broad collar, and visage presenting characteristically pierce circular eyes, a prominent, beak-like nose, no mouth, and a dramatic headdress or coiffure with twin spiraled conical forms flanking her face. Figurines like this 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 - perhaps representing goddesses, matriarchs, or worshippers. Size: 1.15" W x 3.5" H (2.9 cm x 8.9 cm)
Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#154205
Condition Report: Part of headdress is repaired. Otherwise in excellent condition with great preservation of form and light deposits.
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Time, Location
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