Terracotta Long-Necked Figure with Protruding Tongue

The Tongue

A long neck, a lifted head and a tongue stuck out with complete confidence. This figure has a sense of humour, or a sense of defiance, or both.

Across many cultures a protruding tongue can mean mockery, protection against harm, or simply joy. Here it is modelled as a broad, flat shape resting on the chin, pale against the darker clay, and it gives the face an unforgettable expression.

The body tells a gentler story. The arms curve all the way around the vessel and meet low on the belly, as if the figure is holding itself, or holding what it carries. Small breasts on the chest suggest a female figure, and the gesture reads as protective.

White patches scattered over the surface, perhaps from earlier use or burial, give the piece a dappled skin. Seen from the side, the head turns on its long neck and the mouth opens like a beak, one of the subtle changes that reward walking around the work.

A globular vessel with a tall cylindrical neck rising to a head with a long, flat tongue extending from the open mouth. The head is edged with a beaded crest and set with round ears and spiral eyes; traces of red pigment survive around the mouth.

Two long arms curve around the body of the vessel, their hands resting on the lower belly. Small breasts are modelled on the chest, ribbed bands run down the front and sides, and the surface is scattered with white patches.