What does the Venus of Willendorf represent?

The exact meaning of Venus of Willendorf statue is unknown. Most scholars agree it relates to fertility, abundance, survival, or continuity of life in Ice Age societies. The exaggerated body forms emphasize what mattered most in a harsh environment. This was symbolism, not portraiture.

Why does the figure not have facial features?

The face was intentionally minimized. Prehistoric artists often focused on symbolic features rather than individual identity. In this case, the patterned head covering shifts attention away from personality and toward the body’s meaning.

Is this a faithful replica of the original artwork?

Yes. This museum replica follows the proportions, surface texture, and overall form of the original Venus of Willendorf. The finish reflects the stone-like appearance of the prehistoric carving rather than modern polish.

What material is the replica made from?

The statue is made from resin with a rust-stone finish. It includes a removable black metal stand for museum-style display.

How is this different from other Venus figurines?

The Venus of Willendorf is the most compact and exaggerated of all known Venus figurines. Compared to pieces like the Venus of Lespugue, it emphasizes mass and enclosure rather than elongated abstraction.

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Venus of Willendorf Prehistoric Mother Goddess Statue – Paleolithic Art Replica

SKU:VEN01

$44.75 USD

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Ice Age Beauty | Small Scale, Hold in Hand

This Venus of Willendorf statue is a museum-style replica of one of the most famous prehistoric artworks ever found. Discovered in 1908 near Willendorf in Austria, the original figure dates to roughly 24,000–22,000 BCE. It is small, but it carries big questions about symbolism, belief, and daily life in the Ice Age.

Your replica honors the original’s bold design. The body is rounded and compact. The surface suggests careful carving. The face is not individualized. Instead, the head shows a patterned texture that reads as hair, a cap, or a woven covering. This choice keeps attention on the body’s forms.

ETM-505 | Pewter pendant for jewelry making of Venus of Willendorf

What “Venus Figurines” Means

The term “Venus figurines” is a modern label. It does not reflect a prehistoric name or story. It grew from 19th-century scholarship, including the provocative nickname Venus impudique (“indecent Venus”), a pun on the classical Venus pudica pose. The label stuck, even though these objects are thousands of years older than Roman Venus.

Many Ice Age figurines exaggerate features linked to fertility and survival. That does not prove one single meaning. It does tell us what the maker chose to emphasize. This Venus of Willendorf statue keeps that emphasis clear and unapologetic.

Discovery, Material, and Why the Venus of Willendorf Statue Looks This Way

The original figurine is carved from oolitic limestone, a material not native to the immediate find area. That detail matters. It hints at travel, trade, or transport of valued stone in the Upper Paleolithic. Traces of pigment have also been discussed in scholarship, suggesting the figure may once have been colored.

The sculpture’s design is not “anatomy class.” It is visual storytelling. The arms and legs are reduced. The face is minimized. The torso and hips carry the meaning. The result is unforgettable. It is also a reminder that prehistoric artists made strong style choices.

What It Might Have Meant

No one knows the exact purpose of the Willendorf figure. That mystery is part of its power. Researchers have proposed many interpretations: a fertility symbol, a protective figure, a teaching object, or a social emblem. Some theories connect body size to survival value in harsh climates. Others focus on identity, rites of passage, or community belief.

A helpful way to frame it is this: the figure may not represent “one woman.” It may represent an idea. Abundance. Continuity. Life. In that sense, the Venus of Willendorf statue becomes less like a portrait and more like a symbol.

Product Details

Item: Venus of Willendorf (PN VEN01). Also available smaller PA18VEN
Material: Resin with rust-stone finish
Display: Removable black metal stand
Included: Color description card (four languages)
Size: 5 in H x 2.75 in W x 2.25 in D (including stand)
Figure height: approx. 4.5 in without stand

How Collectors Display It

This Venus of Willendorf statue displays beautifully on a bookshelf, desk, or niche. The removable stand gives you options. Use the stand for a “museum label” look. Or display the figure alone for a more intimate feel.

Many collectors build a small “prehistory shelf” to show variety in Ice Age art. A natural pairing is the Venus of Lespugue, which offers a different kind of abstraction and silhouette.

Explore Related Collections

Shop more fertility and goddess imagery in our Mother Goddess and Fertility collection.
Browse more early human creativity in our Prehistoric Art collection.
Add a complementary portrait-style piece with the Lady of Brassempouy miniature.

For More Reading

Natural History Museum Vienna context for Ice Age art (includes Willendorf): Prehistory Room Display
PubMed Central, perspective from a medical professional: Obesity as Survival Symbol
Clear art-history overview and interpretation notes: Khan Academy: Venus of Willendorf
Broader background on the “Venus figurine” category: Wikipedia: Venus figurines overview