Lot 97
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, San Sebastian, Protoclassic Period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A superb pottery female figure of strong, youthful form and massive scale depicted nude save for her elaborate ornamentation of layered collared necklaces, a pendulous nose hoop, and a cascade of multiple earrings along each lobe. Seated on a 2-legged stool, she presses her slender arms against her broad torso, hands resting beneath her perky breasts. The scarification pattern on her shoulders and upper arms was a popular form of body ornament, while her extravagant ornamentation, huge proportion, and position elevated on a stool (rather than seat on the ground) indicate her high-ranking status. Size: 8" L x 12.2" W x 23.9" H (20.3 cm x 31 cm x 60.7 cm)
The San Sebastian style is known for sculptures featuring important stages of womanhood. There was an initiation ritual described as presenting young women after a period of isolation, as 'reborn' adult women, "...the whole community confers an aura of sacredness on the young women and places her, as the 'mother of the earth and of all life-giving plants'"(Holsbeke and Arnaut 1998:88).
Clay figures like this one are the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico. They made no above-ground monuments or sculptures, at least that we know of, which is in strong contrast to developments elsewhere in ancient Mesoamerica. Instead, their tombs were their lasting works of art: skeletons arrayed radially with their feet positioned inward, and clay offerings, like this one, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls. A large effigy like this one would most likely have flanked the entrance to a tomb in a way that archaeologists have interpreted as guarding. Some scholars have connected these dynamic sculptures of the living as a strong contrast to the skeletal remains whose space they shared, as if they mediated between the living and the dead.
A nearly identical Nayarit pottery female figure hammered $27,500 at Sotheby's New York on May 15, 2015 ("African, Oceanic & Pre-Columbian Art," lot # 57).
A similar figure can be found at the British Museum, under museum number Am,Hn.16.
Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-private Fayetteville, Arkansas estate, USA, acquired 1960 to 2024
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#186529
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration, over painting, and resurfacing over break lines; all done very well and difficult to notice. Uneven legs create a slight wobble, but figure is still able to stand independently, absent of support. Light surface wear as shown. Otherwise, impressive presentation with good remaining pigment and detail. Rich manganese deposits to surface.
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| 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 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |