Figure
Figure
circa 2nd century BCE (made)
circa 2nd century BCE (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This doll-like clay figurine with hand-modelled features is a mother goddess. Although large numbers of these figures have been found, their purpose remains obscure. We do not know what their ritual function is, but we assume they served in some way as an aid to fertility.
This piece has a tiny head, stick-like arms and impressed breasts. The most striking feature is the large triangular shape, which probably indicates female genitalia, with incised decoration that possibly represents pubic hair.
This particular piece was recovered by Colonel D.H. Gordon from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. The V&A purchased it from him in 1951.
This piece has a tiny head, stick-like arms and impressed breasts. The most striking feature is the large triangular shape, which probably indicates female genitalia, with incised decoration that possibly represents pubic hair.
This particular piece was recovered by Colonel D.H. Gordon from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. The V&A purchased it from him in 1951.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Figure (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Terracotta |
| Brief description | Mother goddess, terracotta, Gandhara, Pakistan, circa 2nd century BCE |
| Physical description | A modelled terracotta female figurine. A fertility icon in which the pubic area is the dominant feature. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | A mother goddess figurine of clay, modelled in a doll-like fashion, with the features impressed and worked by hand. The ritual function of such objects is unknown, but they are assumed to serve in some way as an aid to fertility. This votive (?) object was recovered from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan, by Colonel D H Gordon, and purchased from him by the Musum in 1951. |
| Production | Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan |
| Summary | This doll-like clay figurine with hand-modelled features is a mother goddess. Although large numbers of these figures have been found, their purpose remains obscure. We do not know what their ritual function is, but we assume they served in some way as an aid to fertility. This piece has a tiny head, stick-like arms and impressed breasts. The most striking feature is the large triangular shape, which probably indicates female genitalia, with incised decoration that possibly represents pubic hair. This particular piece was recovered by Colonel D.H. Gordon from a site at Charsadda Shaikhan Dheri, Gandhara, Pakistan. The V&A purchased it from him in 1951. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.20A-1951 |
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| Record created | January 17, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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