Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A bulbous-bodied vessel with a wide-mouthed spout that flares outward from the center of the body. From one side is a large, projecting head, two projecting, stubby legs, and two arms, one extended forward, palm outward, and the other resting against the side and back of the head. The head is classically Jalisco, with a very tall forehead and long, thin nose highlighted by a large ring. The figure's coffee bean eyes and slightly open mouth complete the face. A criss-crossed pair of bands form some kind of headgear or coiffure. Red pigment surrounds the neck, top of the head, and the feet, while the rest of the figure and bowl are a pale, creamy brown color. Size: 5.3" W x 6.7" H (13.5 cm x 17 cm)

Ceramic figures like this one are some of the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico - they left 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 terracotta offerings, like this figural vessel, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls.

Provenance: private Stagecoach, Nevada, USA collection; acquired from 1985 to present from galleries such as Arte Primitivo, Art For Eternity, Butterfields and Riverbend Gallery

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#128750

  • Condition: Intact, with excellent remaining detail. Limited manganese deposits on the body.

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November 9, 2017 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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