222 - Valdivia Cultural Idol. Ecuador, 3rd millennium B.C.

Valdivia Cultural Idol. Ecuador, 3rd millennium B.C. Stone. Measurements: 29 x 11 x 8 cm. Provenance: Family legacy of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Archaeological collection formed from the 1950s by successive generations of the family, through acquisitions in European galleries and auction houses. The Valdivia culture is one of the oldest in the Americas and has its origins in the earlier Las Vegas culture. It flourished between 3500 and 1800 B.C. in one of the most arid regions of southern Ecuador, primarily on the Santa Elena Peninsula, although settlements of this culture have also been found inland. The Valdivia culture stands out as one of the first American societies in which the use of pottery became widespread. They primarily made pots, bowls, and dishes, always with wide rims and concave bases. Another notable feature of this culture’s pottery is its figurines, which were initially made of stone and later of pottery. Most of them depict women, showing different stages of a woman’s life, such as puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, and so on. These figurines highlight the importance of personal adornment in this culture, clearly showing lip paint or lip ornaments, necklaces, and earrings.