SculptureSyrian18th-17th century BCE

Anthropomorphic female figurine fragment: body

1900-1700 BCE

Description

This fragment of a handmade terracotta figurine preserves the body of a nude, anthropomorphic female figure. There is a break at the neck. A necklace or such decoration at the neck is made of an applied band clay; a few faintly visible vertical marks on the band suggest it was decorated with incision. Below the neck, short stub arms project to either side. Breasts are indicated by two applied round pellets of clay; between them, there is additionally a very small round applied pellet. The body is “violin-shaped,” with hips widening in fairly angular manner. At the center of the torso is an applied circular pellet indented with a pointed, circular tool, indicating a navel. Below, two horizontal lines of indented dots (made either with a roulette or a sharp pointed tool) indicate a pubic area; incised dots faintly visible down the proper left hip and leg may indicate a broader area of decoration that is now poorly preserved. Below this, a vertical groove indicates legs. The fragment breaks off across the legs. The back of the figurine is flat. This flatness is indicative of the forming process, in which the clay was pressed against a flat surface. A shallow groove runs in a mostly vertical direction (with a slight diagonal slant) down the length of the back. Two divots are present on the back of the hips. Clay fabric: Munsell 10 YR 8/2 very pale brown. Small blackish inclusions and rare larger white inclusions; frequent small irregular voids.

Classification

Sculpture

Technique

Handmade

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Syrian

Period

Bronze Age, Middle

Century

18th-17th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

H. 4.8 × W. 4.1 × D. 1.3 cm (1 7/8 × 1 5/8 × 1/2 in.)

Provenance

Louise M. and George E. Bates, Camden, ME (by 1971-1992), gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1992.

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