Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Veracruz culture, ca. 6th to 8th century CE. A curious collection of 3 pottery heads of zoomorphs, each bearing remarkably eccentric features and an expressive countenance. The first and largest presents an anthropomorphic visage with bulging, black-painted eyes, an up-turned nose, prominent cheekbones, and fleshy lips parted to reveal 2 front teeth, all crowned by a lengthy headdress resembling the snout of a crocodile with eyes on either side and a scaly central crest extending to the flared nostrils. Next, the avian head exhibits a massive, curved beak, delineated nostrils, and target motif eyes crowned by a rectangular comb and a discoid crest adorned with radiating striations and applied dots. Last, the third head resembles a stylized feline featuring sizeable eyes beneath arched brows and a brief snout with a round nose, full lips, an openwork mouth, and fierce fangs. Size of largest (anthropomorphic head): 3.4" L x 2.1" W x 3.2" H (8.6 cm x 5.3 cm x 8.1 cm)

A slender collar encompasses the thick neck of the last zoomorph, exhibiting an ovoid pendant at the center and wing-like extensions at each end.

Provenance: private Kansas, USA collection, acquired via descent from family in Jalisco, Mexico ca. the 1940s, and imported into the US in the 1970s and 1980s

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#171537

  • Condition: All are fragments of larger pieces. Losses to proper left side of crest on bird head. All have expected surface wear as shown. Otherwise, all are very nice with great remaining detail. Liberal remains of pigment on anthropomorphic head.

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May 12, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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