 Aegean marble seated idol Late Neolithic, c.5th millennium BC Height: 10cm Provenance: Private collection France, acquired in Bulgaria late 1960s The steatopygous female sits with her legs folded diagonally, her arms held horizontally across the body below well-spaced breasts and above a distinctly rounded abdomen. The waist is relatively narrow emphasizing her voluminous hips, legs and exaggerated bottom. The neck and head come to a simple tapering point, the face concave with strong chin and pronounced nose, most evident in profile. This rare idol is in an excellent state of preservation retaining, in parts, its original polished surface. Carved about 7000 years ago, the figure celebrates an extreme female form and served as a symbol of abundance and fecundity.  Rupert Wace Ancient Art 