Anthropomorphic female figurine fragment: head
1800-1600 BCE
Description
This head is a fragment of a handmade terracotta anthropomorphic figurine. A break at the top of the head indicates that the upper part of a headdress or coiffure is now missing. A large semicircular projection flanks the proper right side of the face; it is pierced by two holes. This element may represent ears, part of a coiffure, or part of a headdress. A break at the proper left side of the face preserves part of two pierced holes, indicating there was once also a semicircular projection with two piercings on this side, too. Large eyes are formed of applied circular pellets with indentations at the center, made with a round, pointed tool. The eyes are set on either side of a thin, projecting nose, which is broken. There is a loss from the forehead above the eyes; an extant circular indentation seems to preserve the former location of a now-lost circular pellet, formed with a central indentation like the eyes. The fragment terminates with a break at the neck. Clay fabric: Munsell 7.5YR 7/3 to 7/4 pink. Frequent small to medium white inclusions and small to medium voids (round and linear).
Dimensions
H. 2.7 × D. 1.8 × W. 2.2 cm (1 1/16 × 11/16 × 7/8 in.)
Provenance
Louise M. and George E. Bates, Camden, ME (by 1971-1992), gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1992.
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