FEMININE IDOL Terracotta H.9,7 cm Eastern Europe, Trypilian culture, c. 5500-2700 BC Provenance Estate of Mr Loneux, antique dealer in Lièges (ceased activity in the 1990s), Belgium French private collection, acquired on the Belgian art market Stylized anthropomorphic form, characteristic of Trypilian culture. The figurine has a slender, vertical body, with a silhouette of expressive proportions emphasising feminine attributes and fertility. The head, an elongated ovoid, is treated schematically, with the face reduced to its essential elements: two circular perforated eyes and a bridge nose forming a characteristic T-shaped motif, creating a hieratic and mysterious expression. The long, cylindrical neck marks an elegant transition between the head and the torso. The bust features two prominent breasts modelled in relief, clear symbols of femininity and maternity. The arms are raised and bent upwards in a praying position or ritual gesture, a recurring posture in Neolithic figurines and interpreted as divine invocation or an attitude of adoration. Small circular perforations are visible on the shoulders and arms, probably intended for hanging the figurine or attaching ornaments. The lower part of the body, spindle-shaped and elongated, is richly decorated with incised and perforated decoration forming complex geometric patterns: vertical lines, chevrons and a series of symmetrically arranged circular perforations, perhaps evoking a garment, tattoos or cosmological symbols. These motifs create a dense, rhythmic visual texture. The terracotta has a dark brown-grey colour resulting from reductive firing (low oxygen atmosphere), a technique frequently used in Neolithic ceramics. The Trypilian culture (or Cucuteni-Trypillia, depending on the geographical area) is one of the most remarkable Neolithic and Chalcolithic civilisations in Europe, spanning the present-day territories of Ukraine, Moldavia and Romania between around 5500 and 2700 BC. This culture is characterised by its large villages (some with several thousand inhabitants), its sophisticated painted ceramics with spiral and geometric motifs, and its abundant production of anthropomorphic figurines. Female idols make up one of the most important bodies of Trypillian furniture art. Thousands have been discovered during archaeological excavations, in domestic contexts (dwellings) and possibly for worship. Their widespread presence suggests that they played a central role in the spiritual and social life of these farming communities. An Eastern Europe, Trypillian Culture Terracotta Anthropomorphic Female Idol. Neolithic, c.5500-2700 BCE. Remarkable female terracotta idol of stylized anthropomorphic form, characteristic of the Trypillian culture. The figurine presents a slender vertical body, with an expressive silhouette emphasizing feminine attributes and fertility. The head, of elongated ovoid form, is treated schematically with a face reduced to its essential elements: two circular perforated eyes and a ridged nose forming a characteristic T-motif, creating a hieratic and mysterious expression. The long cylindrical neck marks an elegant transition between head and torso. The bust presents two prominent breasts modeled in relief, obvious symbols of femininity and motherhood. The arms are raised and bent upward in an orant (prayer) position or ritual gesture, a recurrent posture in Neolithic figurines interpreted as divine invocation or attitude of adoration. Small circular perforations are visible at the shoulders and arms, probably intended to suspend the figurine or attach ornaments. The lower part of the body, fusiform and elongated, is richly decorated with incised and perforated decoration forming complex geometric patterns: vertical lines, chevrons, and series of circular perforations arranged symmetrically, perhaps evoking clothing, tattoos, or cosmological symbols. These patterns create a dense and rhythmic visual texture. The terracotta presents a dark brown-gray colour resulting from reduction firing (oxygen-poor atmosphere), a frequent technique in Neolithic pottery. The Trypillian culture (or Cucuteni-Trypillia according to geographical zones) is one of the most remarkable Neolithic and Chalcolithic civilizations in Europe, extending across the current territories of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania between approximately 5500 and 2700 BC. This culture is distinguished by its large villages (some counting several thousand inhabitants), its sophisticated painted pottery with spiral and geometric motifs, and its abundant production of anthropomorphic figurines. Female idols constitute one of the most important corpora of Trypillian portable art. Thousands of examples have been discovered during archaeological excavations, in domestic contexts (dwellings) and possibly cultic ones. Their massive presence suggests they played a central role in the spiritual and social life of these agricultural communities.