Important Neolithic Mother Goddess of the Vinča Culture

Culture: Southeastern Europe

Period: 5th millennium B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 23.5 cm high

Price: 48 000 Euro

Ref: 5262

Provenance: From the well-known Vinča collection of Dusan Jovanovic (1956-2015), since 1970 in Austria. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence test confirming the age of the figure and an old collection photograph.

Condition: Except for ancient wear below the throne wonderfully preserved.

Description: Large and important terracotta statuette of the Vinča culture depicting an enthroned mother goddess. The seated figure with a mask-like face dominated by a long tapering nose. The eyes almond-shaped with long, engraved eye lashes. The back of the head is flat on top, pulled far out and angularly sloping. Circle segments are engraved on the calotte. Perforations on top and on the back of the head indicate separately affixed jewellery. The strong arms abundantly decorated with rings protrude sideways and rest on the slightly bulging belly. The goddess wears a tight gown decorated with dots and lines. The breasts roundly protrude, the lap is decorated with lines. The goddess has an overly wide pelvis, which underlines her importance during fertility rites. The legs are accentuated, knees and feet are clearly highlighted. The back of the figure is flattened, whereas the backbone is deepened. Upwards tapering lines and a meander decoration adorn the back and the posterior. The stool has a rectangular seat and two solid legs running across the width. The corners of the seat are pulled upwards. The outside is decorated with incised decoration in form of triangles, zig zag lines and diagonals. From the region of Supska-Stublina. Accompanied by a TL test confirming the age of the figure and an old collection photograph.