Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Manabi Province, Bahia culture, ca. 1st to 6th century CE. An endearing pottery figure of a mother holding out a sleeping infant as though presenting the child to the viewer, all portrayed at an impressively grand scale. Bare-chested, the stylized figure exhibits a towering head and wears a flanged helmet, a beaded, a flared skirt, bangles, a beaded necklace, and nasal ornaments, all suggesting she is of higher social status. Applied stippling embellishes her ears, representing adornments or ceremonial scarification. Ceramic figure making in Ecuador began in the 3rd millennium BCE and persisted until the Spanish conquered the region in the 16th century. Strikingly large figures like this example are known as "gigantes" or giants and were typically found in family groups with pairs and couples being common. Size: 10" W x 22.7" H (25.4 cm x 57.7 cm)

Cf. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1991.436.6, Gardiner Museum of Pottery in Toronto, G83.1.212, and Herbert F. Johnson Museum at Cornell University, 2006.070.062 and 75.051.013.

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full printed and bound report is available to the buyer upon request.

Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010

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#174422

  • Condition: Professionally repaired and restored with break lines visible in areas. Some very light abrasions. Otherwise, very nice presentation with ample remaining pigments. TL holes to left foot and back of head.

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October 20, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
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Artemis Fine Arts

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