Description:

Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Veracruz, ca. 600 to 900 CE. An exceedingly rare terracotta vessel in the form of a human left arm and hand - the arm bent at the elbow, the hand presenting the thumb pressed against the side of the index finger, and all but the thumb pressed against one another. A beautiful dotted pattern in cream on the orange slip adorns the arm - perhaps to represent body paint or tattoo marks - and the fingers are delineated in a relatively naturalistic manner with neatly delineated nail beds. Nice manganese deposits grace both the exterior and interior surfaces as well. Size: 11.5" L x 3" H (29.2 cm x 7.6 cm)

Cf. Nancy P. Troike "The Interpretation of Postures and Gestures in Mixtec Codices" (1982) for interpretations of gestures in various Mixtec codices - relevant scholarship given likely migration between the Mixtec and Veracruz - including the Codex Bodley, Codex Selden, and Codex Colombino-Becker. Troike hypothesizes that hand gestures signified "request", "tribute", and "acceptance". Though the Mixtec followed several centuries later, it is likely that such customs had deep roots.

Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery, New York, New York, USA; ex-private Huber collection, acquired pre-1970s

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#148171

  • Condition: Repaired from about a dozen pieces - most repairs on the arm. Nice manganese deposits on exterior and interior surfaces.

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August 6, 2019 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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