OLDEST KNOWN SCULPTURE

This 6 cm tall sculpture, carved from mammoth bone, is the oldest sculpture of a human figure.

This fertility figure, with it's exaggerated bust and anatomical details, is thought to be at least 35,000 years old.

The sculpture was discovered in the Hohle Fels Cave in Germany, which is how the tiny figurine gained the name "The Venus of Hohle Fels."

It is believed that the figure was suspended from a pendant, as instead of a head a small ring is carefully carved above it's broad shoulders.

The artefact is presumed to have been made by modern humans even though Neanderthals were still present in Europe at this time.

"We find all kinds of things in our caves - musical instruments, all kinds of ornaments, mythical representations of lion-men, not to mention all the different stone tools, bone tools, ivory tools, [and] antler tools. But we have no human bones that really tell us one way or the other who made these artefacts. I assume they were made by modern humans," said Nicholas Conard, professor of Early Prehistory at Tübingen University.

(Reference, BBC News)

Throughout history, venus figurines have played prominently in prehistoric art. These ancient tributes to the female form have been an inspiration for my own figurative works. Here are some of examples of my own fertility sculptures:

 

 

www.ninawinters.com

SCULPTURE OF THE WEEK 5/30

I wanted to share with you the inspiration behind my sculpture, "Ode to Venus" (right). In 1908 an archeologist discovered a female fertility figure carved from limestone in Willendorf, Australia."Venus of Willendorf" (left) stands 4 in. high and is estimated to have been made between 24,000 and 22,000 BC. Boldly sexual and designed for procreation, my sculpture is an homage to this sculpture from long ago.

SCULPTURE OF THE WEEK 8/22/11

 

This week I wanted to give you the background on my piece "Great With Child". It was created first out of clay, then cast in bronze. I then patinaed (colored) it with dark rich black-browns, and polished areas to a shining gold. The story behind this piece comes from when I was pregnant with my daughter. I was at a standing room only concert at the Ritz in New York City, and the room became too crowded for the safety of my unborn child. I went upstairs to the "Press Only" area and was greeted by Joseph Shabalala, founder of the headlining group, Lady Smith Black Momboza, with the words "You are great with child. Come, sit with us". Several years later, when my daughter Hana-li was a young child, we went to see Lady Smith Black Momboza play again. I wanted to introduce Joseph Shabalala and his group to her, the child that I had been so "great with" at their previous concert. But as much as I tried to get us backstage, security wouldn't even let us get a message to Joseph Shabalala. I finally yelled his name, with as much intention as I could muster, into the far reaches of the area backstage. A few moments later, he appeared at the entrance. I asked him if he remembered when I was "great with child" at the Ritz. He nodded and said that he did. I then gestured at Hana-li, so small and mesmerized, and said "Here, this is the child." Joseph brought us backstage, and soon the whole group had surrounded Hana-li, smiling and taking her in. The child that had listened to their concert while still in the womb. This sculpture is dedicated to Joseph Shabalala, lead singer for Lady Smith Black Mombazo. The memory of his kindness finds its home in this sculpture.

Visit my website to see all of my work: www.ninawinters.com

And feel free to email me with any questions: Nina@ninawinters.com