An Indus Valley figure of a goddess, missing lower part of torso. Not a new donation but one we have never displayed.

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.

There are other Indus Valley figures in the collection.