A classic Pre-Columbian Valdivia pottery female “Venus” figure from coastal Ecuador, dating to one of the earliest ceramic-producing cultures in the Americas (circa 3000–1500 BC).

The figure is rendered in a stylized standing form, with pronounced breasts, narrow waist, and elongated legs. The head is notably large and flat-topped, with incised linear detailing suggesting hair or headdress—an iconic feature of Valdivia female figures. Facial features are minimally defined, conveying the abstract yet expressive aesthetic characteristic of the culture.

Valdivia “Venus” figures are widely interpreted as symbols of fertility, femininity, and early ritual practice, making them among the most recognizable and sought-after forms in early Pre-Columbian art.

Condition:

Head and leg reglued with break lines visible. 

Provenance: Ex Hill Auction Gallery, Florida, Acquired from a private Florida estate

Dimensions: Height: 2 1/8”