# Lady of Brassempouy Miniature Statue – Prehistoric Venus Head, Pocket Art

## The Oldest Known Human Face in Art

The **Lady of Brassempouy statue** is a pocket-sized replica of one of the most important discoveries in prehistoric art. Known as the _Lady with the Hood_, this ivory head from the late Paleolithic period is widely regarded as the **oldest realistic depiction of a human face** ever found.

The original Lady of Brassempouy statue fragment was discovered in 1892 in the Grotte du Pape near the village of Brassempouy in southwestern France. Unlike most prehistoric figurines, which emphasize the body, this sculpture focuses entirely on the face. The calm expression, carefully shaped nose, and patterned hair or hood suggest deliberate portraiture rather than symbolism alone.

## Gravettian Art and Early Portraiture

Dating to approximately **23,000 BCE**, the **Lady of Brassempouy statue** belongs to the **Gravettian culture**, a period known for refined carving techniques and the widespread creation of Venus figurines. What sets this figure apart is its restraint. There is no exaggerated anatomy. There is no overt symbolism. Instead, the artist chose observation, balance, and realism.

Scholars continue to debate the purpose of the sculpture. Some suggest the Paleolithic female head represents an idealized woman. Others see it as an ancestor figure or a symbolic embodiment of identity. What is certain is that the sculptor possessed remarkable technical skill and a sophisticated understanding of the human face.

## About This Museum Replica | Lady of Brassempouy statue

This **Lady of Brassempouy miniature statue** is part of the **Parastone Museum Collection** and is reproduced in pocket scale as part of the [**_Pocket Art_ series**](../../../collections/pocket-art-miniature-museum-statue-replicas). The sculpture is cast in resin with an antique finish and mounted on a fixed black pedestal base.

The miniature format makes this piece ideal for desks, bookshelves, or intimate study collections. Despite its size, the replica preserves the quiet dignity and historical weight of the original artifact.

-   **Collection:** Parastone Museum Collection – Pocket Art
-   **Material:** Resin with antique finish
-   **Base:** Attached black pedestal (non-removable)
-   **Included:** Sateen-lined gift presentation box
-   **Dimensions:** 4 in H × 1 in W × 1 in D (including base)
-   **Weight:** 4 oz
-   **Part Number:** PA23BR

## Context Within Prehistoric Female Art

The Lady of Brassempouy is often discussed alongside other prehistoric female figures such as the [Venus of Willendorf](https://www.museumize.com/products/venus-willendorf-prehistoric-mother-goddess) . Together, these works illustrate the wide range of expression in early human art, from symbolic fertility figures to carefully observed human features.

While many Venus figurines emphasize abundance and fertility, the Lady of Brassempouy stands apart as a moment of quiet individuality. It reminds us that even in deep prehistory, artists were capable of empathy, restraint, and profound observation.

## For More Reading

-   Scholarly article on prehistoric figurines (NIH/PMC): [Obesity and survival](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7902358/)
-   Musée d'Archéologie Nationale, France: [refurbished with body](https://musee-archeologienationale.fr/actualite/la-dame-de-brassempouy-revisitee)
-   Overview of Venus figurines: [various examples on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_figurine)
-   Visual timeline of Venus figurines: [Venus figurines in chronological order](https://www.donsmaps.com/venustimeline.html)

## Parastone Museum Replicas and the Mouseion Collection

For nearly **60 years**, **Parastone** has been a trusted creator of museum-quality art replicas and decorative sculptures. Founded in Europe, Parastone works closely with museums and cultural institutions to produce **faithful, carefully researched reproductions** of important artworks from across history.

The **Mouseion Collection** is the heart of Parastone’s museum replica program. It includes accurate sculptural reproductions of classical and modern masterpieces, as well as three-dimensional interpretations of famous paintings and drawings. Artists represented range from **Hieronymus Bosch** and **Edgar Degas** to **Salvador Dalí** and **Gustav Klimt**.

Each Parastone piece is known for its attention to proportion, surface detail, and historical character. Finishes are chosen to reflect the spirit of the original work rather than exaggerate it. Many sculptures include educational cards explaining the artwork and artist, reinforcing Parastone’s role as a **creator of museum gifts** rather than decorative objects alone.

## Details

- **Price:** 33.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Parastone
- **Type:** Statues
- **Tags:** collection-parastone, culture-french, era-prehistoric-art-collection, in-stock-museum-gift-store, interest-mother-goddess-fertility, learning-tools, parastone-gifts, parastone-pocket-art-mini, size-mini-under-4-in, statues

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 33.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Miniature Lady of Brassempouy statue replica on pedestal, Paleolithic Venus head.
- Pocket Art Lady of Brassempouy prehistoric figurine with antique finish.
- Back view miniature Lady of Brassempouy Venus head sculpture, museum replica.
- Small Paleolithic Lady of Brassempouy statue gift-sized prehistoric art replica.
- Original Lady of Brassempouy ivory head, Paleolithic sculpture circa 23,000 BCE.
- Pocket Art Collection comes in a sateen lined gift box. Parastone Colleection.

---

> Source: [Museumize.com](https://www.museumize.com/products/lady-of-brassempouy-statue)
> Updated: 2026-06-27