Ancient Central Asia, Indus Valley, Mehrgarh period, ca. 3500 to 2800 BCE. A wonderful pair of hand-built Bronze Age pottery female statues which perhaps represent fertility goddesses. The smaller, one-footed figure buffware figure presents with extended arms, a slender waist with ample hips, full breasts below a large pectoral collar, and a rounded head with recessed circular eyes and a draped coiffure. The larger redware figure stands upright and holds her arms to her bosom in an almost protective manner, with an upright head boasting slender eyes with pierced pupils, a protruding nose, and straight lateral locks which drape to her shoulders. Custom museum-quality display stands included. Size of largest (redware): 1.825" W x 4.75" H (4.6 cm x 12.1 cm); 5" H (12.7 cm) on included custom stand.

These figures date to the Mehrgarh periods IV - VI. Interestingly, scholars now believe that the pottery of Mehrgarh supersedes that of Mesopotamia in being the earliest known polychrome ceramics produced by humans.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#137006

Smaller figure repaired from multiple large pieces, with some resurfacing and adhesive residue along break lines, and losses to areas of head and one foot. Larger has some small repairs to arms and feet with chips to head, body, and legs. Both figures have fading to some finer details and nicks to bodies, limbs, and peripheries. Nice earthen deposits and encrustations throughout.