Central Asia, Pakistan/ Afghanistan, Mehrgarh period (pre-Indus Valley civilization), ca. 2800 to 2600 BCE. A hand-built pottery fertility idol with a characteristic bird-like face. The figure presents nude with both arms holding her breasts aloft, and both her necklaces and veil lining are decorated with dozens of extremely fine impressions. Bird-faced figurines like this one are found throughout the region, although their meaning is unclear - most female figures found by largely male archaeologists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century were immediately given the title "fertility idol," but more recent interpretations suggest that these figures probably had much more nuanced and varied symbolism, perhaps representing a goddess, a matriarch, or a worshipper. Size: 2.25" L x 1.6" W x 3" H (5.7 cm x 4.1 cm x 7.6 cm)

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, inherited via grandfather, who collected before 1980

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#183021

Restoration below waist, with resurfacing and light overpainting along new material and break lines. Abrasions and light earthen deposits, with minor softening to some finer details, otherwise in great condition. Wonderful preservation to impressions around necklaces and veil.