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Conical female figurine portrayed standing, her
large squatted vest folded at the bottom in four
creases, her bulging shoulders and bent arms
close to the body. Both breasts and the necklace
are applied on the body. The angular face with
applied facial features comprising continuous
lines in relief as eyebrows, sunken rounded eyes
below, mouth and nose converging into a
protruding beak. The hair combed backwards
between two enlarged upturned earlobes. Her
hands palms down and attached to the vest.
Figurines with similarly applied facial features
have been traditionally ascribed to the Bajaur
Valley at the border between Pakistan and India,
in the sphere of influence of the early Harappan
civilization during the so called Regionalisation
Era (2800-2600 BC).
Incredibly enough, the extraordinary blend of
realism -imbued in the detailed torso and arms
of this figurine, and surrealism -of her large
facial traits- would not feel out of place in a
contemporary setting, thus transcending the
boundaries of time and space.
For a discussion on Harappan figurines see: J.M.
Kenoyer, Ancient Cities of the Indus Valley
Civilization, 1998.
- (LO.1172)
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