Terracotta figurine recovered from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. Made circa 2nd century BCE. Museum number: IS.20A-195. © Victoria and Albert Museum.
Location: Ceramics Study Galleries, Asia & Europe, room 137, case R, shelf 3.
Original caption reads:
This doll-like clay figurine with hand-modelled features is a mother goddess. Although large numbers of these figures have been found, their purpose remains obscure. We do not know what their ritual function is, but we assume they served in some way as an aid to fertility.
This piece has a tiny head, stick-like arms and impressed breasts. The most striking feature is the large triangular shape, which probably indicates female genitalia, with incised decoration that possibly represents pubic hair.
This particular piece was recovered by Colonel D.H. Gordon from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. The V&A purchased it from him in 1951.
This type of head is very similar to others from elsewhere:
Indus Valley Terracotta Figurine of a Fertility...
Female figurine with movable legs. Handmade. Bell-shaped body with modeled breasts, tall neck ending in a bird-like face. From Thebes. Early 7th c. BC. © National Archaeological Museum of Greece.
Anatolian Idol in the Form of a Stylized Female Figure. 3500 BC - 2500 BC. Silver, height 3.3 cm. Acquired on the European Art Market, 1994. Serial Nº: 13384. © e-tiquities.com.
Four Astarte figurines. Clay (around 1000 BCE) Iron Age I. © Erich Lessing.
According to the source, they are from the Israel Museum.
Three Syrian terracotta idols circa 2nd Millenium B.C. © christies.com
One with long cylindrical body, hands held up to chest, the bird-like face with applied disc eyes; one with flat body, arms outstretched, with dotted lines around waist and on necklace, and incised lines on high headdress; and one with flat outstretched arms, headdress and pierced ears
5½ in. (14 cm.) high max. (3)
Female idol with jewelry and costume. From Ludus, Serbia, Dubovac Culture. Terracotta (15th BCE). © lessing-photo.com. Height 20 cm. Inv. 10.439. From the Narodni Muzej, Belgrade, Slovenia.
Terracotta statuette of woman with bird face. OASC The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Date: ca. 1450–1200 B.C. Culture: Cypriot. On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 173. This figurine is typical of Cypriot coroplastic art of the Late Cypriot II and III periods. The type, with the pubic triangle accentuated and the breasts clearly shown, is likely of Syrian origin, but Cypriot sculptors created their own variations. Handmade and hollow, it has a shaved surface. Her eyes are pellets surrounded by rings. In each large flat ear are two perforations, each containing an earring; the lower ones have overlapping terminals. The infant stretches out its arms and has depressed circles for its eyes.
Harvest Goddess Statue from Mohenjo Daro, or "Mound of the Dead" is an ancient Indus Valley Civilization city that flourished between 2600 and 1900 BCE. It was one of the first world and ancient Indian cities. The site was discovered in the 1920s. This photo is of a reproduction from a statuette at the National Archaeological Museum, Pakistan on sale at amazon.com.
Early–Middle Bronze Age Figurine from Syria. © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Provenance: Formerly collection of the Comtesse de Fontmarin; acquired by the Museum in 1955, purchased from Mrs. Jacques Lindon, New York.
Period:
Early–Middle Bronze Age
Date:
ca. 2200–1750 B.C.
Geography:
Syria
Medium:
Ceramic
Dimensions:
3.75 x 2.06 in. (9.53 x 5.23 cm)
Classification:
Ceramics-Sculpture
Credit Line:
Rogers Fund, 1955
Accession Number:
55.188
Bird-Headed Figure Whistle, 8th–9th century Mexico, Veracruz Ceramic. © The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Indus Valley Terracotta Figurine. Pakistan/Western India Circa: 2600 BC to 1900 BC. Terracotta. Height 7 cm. © barakatgallery.com.
Maya. painted stucco. height 12 cm. A trio of owls. May be a reference to the messenger owls of the Popol Vuh. Said to have come from Yucatan. Photographs © Justin Kerr via mayavase.com.
Double-faced female Tlatilco figure, Central Mexico, 1200–900 B.C. © Princeton University Art Museum.
Ceramic with traces of pigment.
h. 9.5 cm., w. 4.8 cm., d. 2.1 cm. (3 3/4 × 1 7/8 × 13/16 in.)
Gift of Gillett G. Griffin. 1999-245.
Neolithic ceramic female figurine Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, ca. 5500-2750 BCE, Piatra Neamt Museum. Via ljspillowbook.tumblr.com.
Anthropomorphic Vessel. Fired Clay. Vădastra, 5500-5000 BC. National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest: 15908
AMLASH TERRACOTTA STEATOPYGOUS FEMALE FIGURE Iran, circa early 1st Millennium B.C.
Pottery figurine from the Middle Euphrates EBIV 2400-2000 BCE. Photographed at The British Museum in London, United Kingdom. CC BY-NC-SA by Mary Harrsch via flickr.
Cucuteni - Romania - 4500-4400 BC. Via atil.pagesperso-orange.fr.
Cucuteni - Romania - 4500-4400 BC. Via atil.pagesperso-orange.fr.
Fig. 36. (Left) Bright plasma instabilities, top to bottom, increasing luminance. (Right) Petroglyphs. Some show the entire body including the trifurcated base.
