Lot 266
Latin America, Mexico, Ocumichu, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. The tiny town of Ocumicho in the rural Mexican state of Michoacan is the home of some of the most unique Mexican sculptures in which devils and other odd characters, whether they be sun gods, drunkards, or mermaids, cavort and are featured in ceramic tableaux that were made famous by an artist named Marcelino Vicente and his predecessor Catalina Martines Benito. Here we have a ceramic fantasy that features a large horned and winged devil-like creature with a tail presenting a frightening expression with bulging eyes and a mouth bearing teeth, sitting beneath an arch adorned with seven human heads, all upon a rectangular plinth. Size: 8.75" W x 9.125" H (22.2 cm x 23.2 cm)
Such Mexican versions of Dante's Inferno or Hieronymous Bosch's nightmarish visions from the 1500s, only with a folk art and Catholic flavor, occupied by writhing diablitos have become, strangely enough, an icon of a relatively conservative, pious community. The piece is comprised of fired red clay; however, the glazes were not fired. Instead, they were painted and then lacquered to produce an attractive sheen.
Provenance: private Florida, USA collection
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#126124
- Condition: A few of the heads have been reattached. Wings show signs of repair and chips. Fissures to base. Surface wear with pigment loss and nicks here and there. Still a strong example of this intriguing folk art genre.
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