17632
Ecuador, Ca. 2300-2000 B.C.
Preserved is the head of a female figurine modeled in burnished brown clay. The face is rendered in a flat, slightly recessed plane with incised slit eyes, brows, and a small mouth. The most striking feature is the elaborate coiffure — a large, voluminous hairstyle rendered with finely incised radiating lines that fan outward from the brow, a characteristic of Valdivia Venus figures.
The Valdivia culture is renowned for producing the earliest known pottery figurines in the Western Hemisphere.
Valdivia figurines were individually hand-modeled and the elaborate hairstyles are a hallmark of the type and may have served as distinguishing features for individual figurines. These "Venus" figures are believed to have been used in shamanistic and fertility rituals, and many possess both feminine and masculine attributes. Size 1-5/8 inches H. 4-3/8 inches H on wood block stand.
This little fragment of a figurine is from the culture from which the earliest representations of pottery figurines have thus far been found in the new world. Ex Private Florida Collection.
Every object is guaranteed authentic and as described, and has been legally acquired and imported in accordance with U.S. and applicable foreign regulations on the movement and sale of antiquities. A signed certificate of authenticity with a description and photograph accompanies this object. Any restoration is described on the invoice.
Free insured shipping within the United States on most pieces; oversized works are quoted at checkout. We pack and ship ourselves, usually within two business days. International shipping by USPS or DHL is calculated at checkout; if your country is not listed, write to us. Customs forms state the full value; international buyers are responsible for duties and taxes.
Any object may be returned within 14 days of receipt for a refund or credit. Contact us first. See Buying from Us.