Description:

Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast Mexico, Veracruz/Vera Cruz, Remojadas style, ca. 550 to 950 CE. An outstanding example of a Sonriente terracotta figure, the most well-known of Remojadas figurines, featuring a traditional wide smile revealing filed teeth on a characteristically almost triangular shaped face, attached to a child-like body with outstretched arms and displayed palms. This is a male sonriente donning his loincloth as well as bands around his chest - further adorned with a fancy pectoral, ear ornaments, and grand headdress. Sonrientes are rare in Mesoamerican art and scholars suggest that they played a special role in Remojadas society due to their rarity. Why that smile? Well some scholars believe that it was hallucinogenically produced perhaps by ingesting alcoholic pulque while others such as Miller and Taube suggest that the smiling figures were actually performers. Size: 11-1/4"H (28.5 cm) not including shadow-box frame. Provenance: Ex-private Martine collection, Centennial, CO, acquired by family descent in 2002; previously acquired by relatives in Mexico in 1950's and brought into United States in early 1970's. All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. #108826

  • Condition: Broken and repaired, losses to small section to top of head, finger tips and left earring. Whistle appears plugged.

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June 30, 2015 8:00 AM PDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$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