Neolithic Period (ca. 3500–2000 BCE) Red Terracotta Female Figure

拍品描述

Dimensions: Height 14 cm (5.5 in), maximum width 7 cm (2.8 in), dating approximately to the 4th–2nd Millennium BCE，Condition & Provenance: Overall in good condition with natural mineral deposits, surface weathering, soil erosion marks, and areas of white calcium accretion consistent with long-term burial. Provenance: Private Collection, Wyoming, USADescription: This Neolithic red terracotta female figure is hand-modeled with a standing form, joined legs, and connected feet, presenting a simple yet powerful expression of early human artistic imagination. The rounded head features projecting ears with pierced holes, while the facial details are rendered through minimal incised lines defining the eyes, nose, and mouth. The body emphasizes feminine characteristics, with prominently modeled breasts, a rounded abdomen, and simple incised decoration on the lower torso. The arms are absent, leaving only the shoulder forms. The reverse side is decorated with incised geometric patterns, including a diamond-shaped outline surrounded by fine diagonal comb-like impressions, showing the traces of handmade craftsmanship. The figure is made of red terracotta with a coarse clay body, displaying natural soil deposits, surface weathering, and mineral accretions developed over centuries. The solid base features a central opening and retains the texture of ancient fired clay. Combining hand modeling and incised decoration, this sculpture reflects early ritual concepts related to fertility and human reproduction, representing the distinctive character and spiritual expression of prehistoric terracotta art.

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