Red Polished Ware Plank Figure

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.