Red Polished Ware Plank Figure

In contrast with the small three-dimensional figures found on vessels (see for example the Jug with a Man and a Deer), Cypriot potters during the Early Bronze Age (about 2400-1600 B.C.) conceived statuettes of humans as schematic planks. Fashioned from Red Polished Ware, the piece is flat but roughly anthropomorphic in shape, with a trapezoidal body surmounted by a rectangular head. The gender of the figure is evident in the protrusions near the shoulders, interpreted as breasts. Other indicators of female identity include the intricate incised patterns, which were filled with a white, lime-based substance to highlight facial features, jewelry, and embroidered clothing. The back side of the piece is also decorated with incised lines. A rather prominent nose has been carefully sculpted, and round eyes and a slightly open mouth have been clearly rendered. The figure lacks other anatomical details, such as arms and legs.

Early Bronze Age Cyprus, defined by the local Philia culture that originated in Anatolia (present-day western Turkey), saw the introduction of novel technologies and agricultural production, burial practices, and pottery styles. The ubiquitous Red Polished Ware, handmade from mineral-rich clay and named for its ruddy color and lustrous surface, was a hallmark of the local craft tradition. Abstract figures and funerary vessels with scenes of daily life and rituals convey essential information about early Cypriot society. Many plank figures were placed in elaborately furnished tombs, and individualized dress, ornamentation, and face-marks may reflect the identity or status of the deceased.