Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art: Statuette of Pregnant Female Carrying Child

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Statuette of Pregnant Female Carrying Child

The majority of ancient Near Eastern female figures emphasize their fertility. Although the three terracotta (baked clay) figures here come from very different times and places, all are nude and two have overlarge, patterned pubic areas. Their faces are rudimentary, with little or no indication of a mouth. The copper figure, though very schematically modeled, suggests a real woman with pulled-back hair and a bulging belly, wearing a knee-length skirt and carrying an infant on her back. In contrast, the marble image, with its circular head, long neck, and U-shaped body, is reduced almost to abstraction.


This text refers to these objects: 22.12; 51.117; 72.133; L86.1.9; 1996.146.5

• Medium: Copper
• Place Made: Northern region, Syria
• Dates: ca. 2000-1700 B.C.E.
• Dimensions: 3 3/4 x 1 1/8 x 11/16 in. (9.6 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm)
• Collections: Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Middle Eastern Art
• Museum Location: This item is on view in Egypt Reborn: Art for Eternity, Ancient Middle Eastern Art, The Hagop Kevorkian Gallery, 3rd Floor
• Accession Number: L86.1.9
• Credit Line: Lent by Jonathan P. Rosen
• Image: Overall, L86.1.9_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2009
Statuette of Pregnant Female Carrying Child, ca. 2000-1700 B.C.E. Copper, 3 3/4 x 1 1/8 x 11/16 in. (9.6 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Lent by Jonathan P. Rosen, L86.1.9 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, L86.1.9_PS2.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Copper statuette of pregnant female carrying child on back; woman with large head featuring long painted nose, great circular hollow eyes (creating cavity running through face), broad horizontal mouth, huge ears, hair pulled back into bun, tresses falling over neck, body with rounded left breast seemingly proffered to child with woman's right hand, small waist, extremely swollen stomach; knee high change in thickness suggesting lower edge of garment (where is top?), tubular legs, long flat feet with incised lines for toes; baby carried on back, possibly in pouch with rhomboid pattern. Condition: Left arm missing; cracks or repairs at each ankle.