Aztec Basalt Sculpture of Kneeling Chalchiuhtlicue

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 18, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-02-18 10:00:00 2021-02-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-6373
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Central Mexico, Aztec, ca. 1300 to 1521 CE. A mesmerizing statue of Chalchiuhtlicue (meaning "she of the jade skirt" in Nahuatl) - the goddess of love, beauty, youth, and flowing water - skillfully carved from a single piece of grey basalt. The goddess is presented in her customary pose, kneeling with her ample hands placed upon her knees, with out-facing feet finely delineated behind her, looking upward toward the celestial realm with open almond-shaped eyes, a naturalistic nose, and an open mouth as if singing, praying, or chanting. She is highly decorated with a beaded headdress with two long tassels at the sides of her head, a beaded belt on her fringed tunic, and beaded armlets/bracelets. Size: 8.75" L x 9" W x 13.25" H (22.2 cm x 22.9 cm x 33.7 cm)
  
  As a water goddess, Chalchiuhtlicue ensured the healthy state of oceans, lakes, rivers, and natural springs. In addition to maintaining the earth's waters, she also was revered as the protector of newborn children as well as those who were ill, because the waters were thought to possess healing properties. Chalchiuhtlicue was a special member of the Aztec pantheon, serving as the fourth of five suns. Scholars posit that the Aztecs conducted annual sacrifices to honor and thank Chalchiuhtlicue for her life-sustaining waters.
  
  According to the 16th Century Codex Ramirez (a Spanish manuscript that described Aztec religious practices) Tezcatlipoca, Xipe Totec, Quetzalcoatl, and Huitzilopochtli created Chalchiuhtlicue soon after the world was created. Furthermore, the Codex Ramirez states that the Rain God Tlaloc and Chalchiuhtlicue were created simultaneously as husband and wife, befitting as both were water gods.
  
  See another stone statue of Chalchiuhtlicue in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York - accession number 00.5.72. According to the Met's description, "The water goddess was closely related to the Aztec corn goddess, Chicomecoatl, who is often also shown wearing this headdress, while holding ears of corn in her hands."
  
  Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection; ex Allen Davis collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA acquired from Pretemporary in 2012; ex-Miguelangelo Giron collection, Covina, California, USA
  
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  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #159977

  Condition

  Nicks/chips to eyelids, hemline of tunic, ends of tassel earrings, peripheries of coiffure, and other high-pointed areas. Normal surface wear with some abraded areas, but imagery is still strong. Otherwise, intact and generally excellent with scattered deposits.
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