Description:

Pre-Columbian, Atacama Desert, ca. 3000 BCE. A very rare sunbaked 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 to 1960s

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#123355

  • Condition: Very fragile with slight flaking of clay surface. Piece has been stabilized with Paraloid.

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October 27, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000