• Portfolio
  • Collections
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • Log In
Artwork Archive Logo
Flora Lamson Hewlett Library

Flora Lamson Hewlett Library

Berkeley, California

Message
  • Portfolio
  • Collections
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
Indus Valley Female Figure, Blackened Terracotta
Indus Valley Female Figure, Blackened Terracotta
Indus Valley Female Figure, Blackened Terracotta
Indus Valley Female Figure, Blackened Terracotta
  • Indus Valley Female Figure, Blackened Terracotta
  • Terracotta
  • 5.25 x 1.628 x 0.8125 in (13.34 x 4.14 x 2.06 cm)
  • Inv: 2021.1
  • Share
  • Facebook logo facebook Share this blog post via Facebook
  • Twitter logo twitter Share this blog post via Twitter
  • LinkedIn logo linkedin Share blog post via LinkedIn
  • Email logo email Share this blog post via email
Prev
Next

Indus Valley female figure, possibly a harvest goddess figure wearing an ornate, pointed headdress and a headband, possibly of flowers. Around the neck are bangled necklaces and jewels. The mouth is open, eyes are indented into the material.
Hands are at hips under large protruding breasts. Material is full-body with legs together. Material is darkened.

Figurines of women discovered in the Indus Valley are plentiful. The reason for this is unknown, but it proposed that women were given a special place culturally in society, perhaps due to their ability to produce offspring. The female figurines are easily distinguished by a curving, pear-shaped body with large protruding breasts. The figurines of the women tend to also be heavily ornamented.

The head region of the figurines usually show a complex arrangement of hair and flowers and head ornaments, therefore showing a greater cultural interest in hairstyle, likely related to a particular ethnic community or family within the civilization. Additional ornaments on the female figurines include belts, necklaces, and bangles. While males also wore these accessories, the female figurines demonstrate that the women most likely wore larger, more prominent necklaces, and a variety of many bangles on their arm. Almost all figurines were crafted from terra-cotta.

  • Subject Matter: Indus Valley (Harvest?) Female Figure
  • Collections: Sacred World Art Collection
See all artwork from Flora Lamson Hewlett Library