A parade of the five golden figurines that have been found so far in this exciting field on Bornholm. (Photo: Rene Laursen)
aliens!
/kidding
The first one on the left looks like Gumby.
Hey that first one looks like Gumby. :)
The work of “quality” craftsmanship?
"You know, if I were a single man, I might ask that gold figurine out.
That's a good-looking gold figurine."
Normally I like ancient artifacts, but these are so ugly that I want to melt them down and make the gold into something beautiful!
What makes anyone think that sex toys are a modern invention?
Looks like functional adornment to me. A barrette, or part of a clasp to secure clothing. The notches across the arms of the figurine would serve to keep cordage in place.
I'd steal it.
Interesting; Compare these to the work of the modern ceramic artist Isamu Moguchi
http://mondo-blogo.blogspot.com/2011/03/isamu-noguchi-ceramics.html
“Yoshiko-san”
or “Big Boy and Small Child”
Same sort of rough unfinished feel. The Goldsmith was probably working with a limited number of tools; A chisel and file.
Perhaps the reason for the “Teeth” on the back of the Female figure is that it was used as a Barrette, something to hold hair. It would also explain the notch in the upper arm/shoulder area.
A wire or cord or spring was looped around the shoulder notch, hair was gathered under the toothed back, the cord was passed around the hair and fastened to the legs somehow. It would also explain the arch, which would allow it to confirm to the curvature of the wearer’s head.
Really bad ancient sculptor/artist or an early Picasso type weirdo.
I used to have a bottle opener that looked like that.
Sexy!
Looks like SNL’s ‘Cougar Barbie”.
Fascinating stuff! Thanks, eh?
At the risk of being totally without imagination-I think that is a woman’s hair ornament, like maybe a primitive ponytail clip. The “teeth” on the back would hold it in place, and the grooves on the shoulders and legs are there to wrap a ribbon or piece of rawhide around to hold the clip in place in the hair.
If it is a hair ornament, not much has changed since the 6th century AD-I bought a cloisonné one in the shape of a lizard some years ago at a craft market in southern New Mexico-works just like that Danish one, except it has an elastic band that goes around the grooves to hold it in place in the hair...
They are all Guilty. Series. This is Hugh!