Description:

Pre-Columbian, Calima / Malagan Culture, Colombia, ca. 300 BCE. A terracotta sun face mask with small, slit eyes and another opening for the mouth. Powerfully stylized and curiously reminiscent of some of the Haniwa figures from pre-Buddhist Japan, these types of masks are the earliest masks known to exist in Colombia, some dating back as far as 1000 BCE, like the one in the Princeton Museum collection . They predate the famous Malagan culture mask in gold, for which Colombia is known, by 1000 years !!! Like all archaic style masks, they share traits with many early man cultures from different parts of our world. As we see in the running tear motif which one finds in the Paracas culture of Peru, this motif represents the sun shedding tears in the form of rain which sustain humanity and let it flourish. An early, unique, and a exquisite work of art . According to our consigner, the collector originally paid $ 12 000 for it. Clearly, it is a steal !!! Custom bronze base. Size: 6.5" in diameter (16.5 cm)

Provenance: Ex-T. Misenhimer Collection, Hollywood, CA.

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#101862

  • Condition: Areas of light encrustation and mineral deposits. Three tiny drilled attachment holes in the outer border. General light surface weathering otherwise intact.

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May 12, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000