Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Valdivian, ca. 3rd millennium BCE. A superb Valdivian Venus pottery figure, skillfully rendered and presenting a standing nude female with arms to her belly beneath her prominent breasts, separated legs, and a remarkable visage comprised of simple incised facial features that stands out for its emotive expression despite its minimalist aesthetic, topped by a stylish hairdo with a central lobed section separating the long locks. Beyond this, the piece shows nice remains of original red pigment and burnishing marks. Valdivian "Venus" figures are among the very earliest Pre-Columbian figures available from the Americas, and authentic ones are very difficult to come by, in any condition. What makes this Venus figure particularly notable is its meticulously rendered coiffure, its quintessentially abstract body, and its atypically expressive face. Size: 3.875" H (9.8 cm); 4.875" H (12.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private southern California, USA collection, acquired in the 1970s to mid-1980s

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#147095

  • Condition: Repaired from about 5 pieces but nicely done. Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Overall, the figure presents very well.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000