Female figure

Female figurine with stalklike head and neck, triangular torso descending to substantial hips and short stumplike legs. The head, neck, and torso are flat, in contrast to the well-modeled hips and thighs. Two flat oval flaps, each pierced with three holes, project from the sides of the head to form ears. The nose is formed by a ridge, projecting at right angles to the face, nicely echoing the oval projections of the ears to either side. Two thin, stringy arms are added to the base of the neck, and held parallel to each other over the chest; presumably they are holding her breasts. Earthenware, molded, originally burnished.

Historical period(s)
Iron Age I - II, ca. 1350-800 BCE
Medium
Clay
Dimensions
H x W x D: 19.1 x 6.6 x 3.7 cm (7 1/2 x 2 5/8 x 1 7/16 in)
Geography
Northwest Iran
Credit Line
Gift of Joan and Frank Mount
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1995.129
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceramic, Sculpture
Type

Figure: female

Keywords
Iran, Iron Age I (ca. 1450 - 1250 BCE), Iron Age II (ca. 1250 - 800 BCE), woman
Provenance

To 1965
Galerie Israel, Tel Aviv, to 1965 [1]

From 1965 to 1995
Frank and Joan Mount, Alexandria, VA, purchased from Galerie Israel in 1965

From 1995
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Frank and Joan Mount in 1995

Notes:

[1] According to Provenance Remark 1 in the object record.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Frank and Joan Mount
Galerie Israel

Description

Female figurine with stalklike head and neck, triangular torso descending to substantial hips and short stumplike legs. The head, neck, and torso are flat, in contrast to the well-modeled hips and thighs. Two flat oval flaps, each pierced with three holes, project from the sides of the head to form ears. The nose is formed by a ridge, projecting at right angles to the face, nicely echoing the oval projections of the ears to either side. Two thin, stringy arms are added to the base of the neck, and held parallel to each other over the chest; presumably they are holding her breasts. Earthenware, molded, originally burnished.

Collection Area(s)
Ancient Near Eastern Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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