Anatolia, western Turkey, ca. 5th to 4th millennium BCE. Superb early marble fertility idol in semi-abstract form. She stands with her hands across her abdomen, small breasts and pudenda, with string-cut features and drilled mouth, pierced ears and naval. Size: 2.5" W x 4.5" H (6.4 cm x 11.4 cm)

Fertility idols such as this were first produced in the near east as early as the 9th millennium BCE. By 6000 BCE fertility figures were found throughoput the near east and made from a variety of materials - stone and terracotta being most commonly favored. In southern Anatolia, many similar sculptures were found in decorated rooms used as shrines. Some such statues were worshipped in the shrines, others perhaps left as votive offerings left by worshippers.

For 2 somewhat similar forms, see Idols, The Beginning of Abstract Form, Ariadne gallery, catalog items 2 and 39.

Provenance: private Schroeder collection, Boca Raton, Florida, USA, acquired before 1970

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#123636

Considerable deposits on surface, especially on the reverse, ancient chip to right thigh and wear as shown