3D Printed Venus of Willendorf Earrings
Miniature drop earrings modelled on the Venus of Willendorf — one of the oldest known works of human art, dating back approximately 25,000–30,000 years. Printed here at Retrosheep in Blackwood, South Wales in gold-coloured PLA filament.
Lightweight and comfortable to wear, at around 1 inch long. A distinctive piece for anyone who likes archaeology, ancient history, or jewellery with a bit of a story behind it.
Material: Gold-coloured PLA Size: Approx. 1 inch (2.5cm) long Fitting: Standard earring hook
What is the Venus of Willendorf?
The Venus of Willendorf is a small prehistoric figurine, carved from limestone and tinted with red ochre. Standing just 11.1 centimetres tall, it was discovered in 1908 during excavations at a Palaeolithic site near Willendorf, a village in Lower Austria. It is estimated to be between 25,000 and 30,000 years old, making it one of the oldest known works of human art.
The figurine is known for its exaggerated female form — large breasts, abdomen, and buttocks — while the face is not depicted, and the head is covered with what may represent braided hair or a woven headdress. Interestingly, the limestone used to carve it is not local to the area where it was found, suggesting it was transported some distance — though by whom and from where remains unknown.
What the figurine was made for is still debated. Some researchers believe it was a fertility symbol, others see it as a representation of abundance or a protective talisman, and others think it may have had a role in ritual or ceremony. No firm conclusion has ever been reached, which is part of what makes it so enduringly fascinating.
The original Venus of Willendorf is now on permanent display at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna, Austria, where it remains one of the most visited objects in the collection.
