Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1400 to 400 BCE. A charming ceramic human figure, posed with legs akimbo and arms spread wide away from the body. The face has a prominent nose and wears a hairstyle or headdress capped by twin discs. The remains of red and white pigment are still present. Size: 4.75" W x 6.45" H (12.1 cm x 16.4 cm)

The Olmec are famous for their human depictions. As the first major civilization in this fertile area, their artwork inspired civilizations that followed to the point that we think some actually revered Olmec artwork and kept pieces as heirlooms. Figures of this style are known as "baby face", with plump bodies and chubby, pouty facial features. Babies are a recurring theme from Olmec art, and this one would likely have once been white-slipped to match other known examples. The elongated shape of their heads - like this one - have been attributed to deliberate skull shaping.

Provenance: Ex-Harvey Collection, acquired prior to 1972

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#120195

  • Condition: Repair to neck, one arm, and one leg.

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March 27, 2017 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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