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| Gravettian 24,000-22,000 years old |
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| Made of mammoth ivory this justifiably celebrated sculpture is one of the taller female figurines. Found near a camp fire near the top of the deposits in the Cave of Rideaux, the figure was damaged on the front by a blow from a pickaxe and is reconstructed in this replica. The lozenge shaped outline of the figure encompasses a small round head with no face but engraved lines on the back suggesting long hair. The neck and shoulders are well defined and thin arms bend round to rest above the large pendulous breasts which cover a slight but prominent stomach and rest against huge buttocks. From the back, the round buttocks appear high and pushed outwards. The thighs are large and curve into the knees below which the lower legs are vestigial. On the back, engraved vertical lines hang from a horizontal line below the buttocks. These may represent an apron although reversing the figure has led to the suggestion that this might originally have been the head with hair but an error caused the artist to reverse the work.
The characteristics of the Lespugue figurine have been interpreted as indicative of obesity and or pregnancy by those who wish to see the sculpture as a realistic representation. Given the size and shape of the stomach, pregnancy is unlikely and the size of the breasts and characteristics of obesity are more those of a woman who has had several children. However, should we only be looking for realism or, is this an intellectual image in which the mind’s eye has emphasised the meaningful aspects of this woman’s body into a beautiful form? Is this a reflection on the origins and nourishment of life rather than a woman’s body?
14.4 cms high; c.6.4 cms wide; c.3.5 cms thick.
Grottes de Rideaux, Lespugue, Haute-Garonne, France.
Musée de l’Homme, Paris. |
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SCULPTURE INFORMATION |
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24,000 - 22,000 yrs |
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Height : 14.4 cm |
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Width : c.6.4 cm |
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Thick : c.3.5 cm |
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