Figure of Mother Goddess
Figure
1st century BCE-1st century CE (made)
1st century BCE-1st century CE (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This terracotta figurine depicts a female deity or mother goddess. The frontal and symmetrical posture is characteristic of a type of hand-modelled archaic fertility figure. Typically these figures had applied slit-pellet eyes, flat bodies with diminutive but prominent breasts, wide hips, and short outspread arms. An incised vertical line suggested the legs.
The person who hand-modelled this figurine has applied high relief decoration to the flat form. Here applied incised florets and leaves form an elaborate headdress. This, together with the incised jewellery and applied costume, combine to create a highly ornate image of a fertility goddess.
The person who hand-modelled this figurine has applied high relief decoration to the flat form. Here applied incised florets and leaves form an elaborate headdress. This, together with the incised jewellery and applied costume, combine to create a highly ornate image of a fertility goddess.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Title | Figure of Mother Goddess (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Red hand-modelled terracotta with applied ornaments |
| Brief description | Mother goddess, terracotta, Charsadda, Pakistan, 1st century BCE-1st century CE |
| Physical description | Figure of a female deity or mother goddess of red hand-modelled terracotta. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Gallery label | 1. Female Figure, probably a Mother Goddess
100 BC – AD 100
Terracotta
Gandhara/North-west Pakistan (Sar Dehri)
Given by Brigadier-General H.L. Haughton
Museum no. IM.29-1939(06/06/2011) |
| Credit line | Given by Brigadier General H L Haughton |
| Object history | Given by Brigadier General H L Haughton in 1939 |
| Historical context | The strict frontal and rigid posture of this figurine is characteristic of a common type of hand modelled archaic fertility figure usually distinguished by such sylistic features as applied slit-pellet eyes, flat bodies with diminutive but prominent breasts and wide hips, legs indicated by an incised vertical line, and stubby outspread arms. The combined effect of the flat shape and high relief ornamentation, which consists of applied incised florets and leaves, incised jewelery and applied costume, is one of geometricized order and form. |
| Summary | This terracotta figurine depicts a female deity or mother goddess. The frontal and symmetrical posture is characteristic of a type of hand-modelled archaic fertility figure. Typically these figures had applied slit-pellet eyes, flat bodies with diminutive but prominent breasts, wide hips, and short outspread arms. An incised vertical line suggested the legs. The person who hand-modelled this figurine has applied high relief decoration to the flat form. Here applied incised florets and leaves form an elaborate headdress. This, together with the incised jewellery and applied costume, combine to create a highly ornate image of a fertility goddess. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IM.29-1939 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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