Violin-shaped Cycladic Figurine

Description

Violin-shaped figurines – thus named because their profile resembles that of a violin or fiddle – are the most common type of schematic representation of the human body in the Early Cycladic I period. Developed from the violin-like figures of the Neolithic Age (5300-3200 BC), they are usually small, very thin, with a long rod-like projection denoting the head and neck, and two wide notches at the sides forming the “waist” of the body. Several examples feature an incised pubic triangle, while more rarely modeled breasts appear, indicating the female sex of the figures. The illustrated example features the pubic triangle as well as incised creases in the area of the “waist”. Similar creases or wrinkles are also present on later naturalistic figurines and are usually interpreted as signs of a post-parturition state. However, incised creases occur sometimes on male figurines too, casting doubts on this interpretation.

The figurine is made from limestone.