reddish brown terracotta, made from a two part mould, depicting a naked woman sitting, with widely spread legs, her right hand stretched towards her pubic region, the prominent belly suggests she is pregnant, her lavish coiffure pierced for suspension. The back of the figurine is smooth with slight suggestions of the hairstyle and figure, and lacks a vent hole.
Condition: Intact and in good condition, a most charming piece.
Background: While the purpose of these figures is uncertain, they are believed to be associated with the cult of fertility. Similar examples have been found in a bath house in Athribis. see: Karol Myśliwiec, Geoffrey L. Packer "Eros on the Nile" Cornell University Press, 2004 p. 62-63.
Dimensions: Height: 3.9 cm (1 1/2 cm), Width: 4.4 cm (1 3/4 in)
Provenance: Mitry collection.
