Early Female Forms

It is truly fascinating that in one area of the world at the approximate same time that this is being made in Malta:

Venus Figurine
Credit: Hamelin de Guettelet

that this is made in the Czech Republic:

Venus of Dolní Věstonice

These figurines are referred to a "Venus" Figurines. Their exact purpose is not known but suspect were for ritual or ceremonial fertility purposes: "The statuette follows the general morphology of the other Venus figurines: exceptionally large breasts, belly and hips, perhaps symbols of fertility, relatively small head and little detail on the rest of the body."(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_of_Doln%C3%AD_Věstonice )

These figures were made in the Neolithic Era ( ca. 10,000 BC, by Mesopotamia. By ca. 3000 BC,) According to the website, Essential Humanities:

"Neolithic life revolutionized every aspect of human experience and endeavour, including art. Settled life enabled the development of pottery and permanent architecture, spurring painters to shift their attention away from caves to the surfaces of pottery and the walls of buildings (which were often plastered, thus providing an excellent painting surface). Likewise, sculptors turned their attention to sculpted pottery and architectural sculpture."- http://www.essential-humanities.net/art-overview/stone-age/

These voluptuous forms have always been appealing to me as a woman. They represent the female as "goddess". Their natural and fluid bodies truly embody the feminine form. The enlarged breasts and hips are the characteristics that draw suitors to women to reproduce.

Venus of Hohle Fels- Germany

Source:Wikipedia

I love that the Venus of Hohle Fels- could have been worn as an amulet. Now thats a woman with power.

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Palissy Ware

Bernard Palissy (1509-1589), French potter, geologist and naturalist (Retrieved from: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/3-bernard- palissy-french-potter-sheila-terry.html ) "Palissy Ware" is a form of 19th Century ceramics invented by French potter Bernard Palissy. At the time of its inception, Palissy Ware was known as "Rustique" Ware by Palissy himself. Palissy Ware is made out of earthenware and usually depicts realistic water or pond scenes with individually painted snakes, frogs, and foliage; "Palissy's distinctive style of polychrome lead-glazed earthenware in a sombre earth-toned palette, using naturalistic scenes of plants and animals cast from life,[1] was much imitated by other potters both in his own lifetime and especially in the 19th century, when pottery in Palissy's style was produced by Charles-Jean Avisseau of Tours, who rediscovered Palissy's techniques in 1843, his relatives the Landais family of To...

Meissen Figurines

The history of Meissen Figurines is an interesting saga. I never knew that these little people my grandparents had on their buffets were the coveted objects of kings. During the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368), Porcelain was born in China. By the 17th century, Europeans were eager to get their hands on this strong ceramic material. China, who was making money on their sought after creations did not want to give up any secrets. So, early in the 18th century, "Augustus the Strong, elector of Saxony, arrested alchemist Johann Fredrich Bottger and imprisoned him in the town of Meissen: his mission, to discover the secret formula for hard paste porcelain. "(http://www.rauantiques.com/library/meissen--the-allure-of-continental-porcelain-506.html ) By 1708, our man Bottger figured out the formula and was released. Sure enough the factories in Europe got in on the competitive action and began creating with porcelain. Four Seasons Figurines By Meissen Source: http://www.rauantiques...

Thrilled to be featured in the New Mexican’s Weekly Magazine of the Arts, “Pasatiempo”

"Another Birthday" 2024 Clay, Glazes Here is a link to the online article which was published in the February 28, 2025 real live physical newspaper Friday art section of The New Mexican : https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/turner-carroll-gallery-turns-history-on-its-head-in-new-exhibition/article_a25205b8-ed6e-11ef-aab7-a34c880f2c57.html Turner Carroll Gallery Turns History on its Head in New Exhibition santafenewmexican.com Nicole Merkens Art & Design www.nicolemerkens.com Insta: @artgirl253 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolemerkensart

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