The earliest ceramic culture in Ecuador is that of the Valdivinas, a group of people who lived in small fishing villages along the Guayas coast and slightly island. Highly adept at modeling clay, the Valdivian artisans created one of the most stunning art forms in the New World--diminutive fertility figurines, such as this extraordinary example, whose spirited beauty and Universal magnetism belie its small size. With the subtle use of hand and arm placement, the figurine emphasizes its sexuality, focusing our attention on its potency as a fertility Talisman. The rich, burnished surface of the figure emphasizes its sensuality, as the light warmly reflects off its tactile body surface. As we cradle this ancient ceramic treasure in our hand, we immediately understand and appreciate a people whose artistic expression gives nourishment to heart and soul alike, so many centuries after its creation.