Palaeolithic Woman of Willendorf

Details 

This replica is based on a limestone original found at Willendorf, Austria.  Discovered on a terrace about 30 meters above the River Danube, she dates back to around  28000 BC and is one of the earliest representations of the human form.  Our replica has been made to emulate her look and the original's comforting weight, making her such a wonderful object to handle.  

Created by Mammoth hunters during the last Ice Age, these small sculptures seem to have been deliberately deposited in the landscape as some form of sacrifice.  Some hypothesise that they were left there to ensure fertility or prosperity.  Although We will never know these figures' true spiritual and cultural significance, it is clear from the number of female figurines that women played a massive role in these early cultures.

This replica has been handmade and smoke-fired, just as the original ceramic figures from the palaeolithic period, such as the Dolni Vestonice, would have been.  It gives them a variegated finish that ensures no two figures are exactly alike.

She is also known, by some, as the Willendorf Venus.  Although this moniker is misleading, the figure of Venus was not part of mainstream culture for several thousands of years after these Palaeolithic and Neolithic figures were created.  It is also unlikely that these early statues possessed the same attributes given to the Roman figure of Venus.  We can, however, be sure that she is a powerful and beautiful figure in her own right.  She is the Woman of Willendorf.  

Pick the Lucky Dip if you want the fates to decide which of our gorgeous girls you get.  They are all beautiful, so it can be hard to choose. 

'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready.

'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.

Materials

Smoke fired Terracotta

Dimensions

Approx 115mm tall

Variations
When choosing a colour variation, please be aware that the colour and mottling vary with each Venus due to the firing process, giving each one its own individual character.  But we will select your Venus according to your preference.

Production

This goddess has been handmade in a small pottery workshop in Northumberland.

Postage
All items are sent using a second-class postal service.  If you wish to have an item sent first class, please contact me for a quote.  Many Thanks

We will be hand-crafting each Willendorf figure for our SPECIAL EDITION STOMA collection; this means you may have to wait up to 90 days for your figure, and the colouring of each figure will vary. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the charity Chameleon Buddies ( Registered charity number: 1199430.)