Colima Terracotta Cacique Elder Vessel, Ex-Hollywood

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Fine Ethnographic / Asian / Ancient Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 10, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-05-10 10:00:00 2018-05-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Ethnographic / Asian / Ancient Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-ethnographic-asian-ancient-art-3213
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fantastic and large ceramic vessel in the form of a seated cacique (leader) elder, his eyes closed as if he is in a serene, trance-like state. His face is amazingly sculpted to have deep lines, especially on the forehead and the cheeks; the eyes are sunken, and the man depicted also has a bent nose and prominent chin that give this figure a more individualized, lifelike appearance than most from this culture. He is seated with his hands on his knees, which are bent upwards, exposing his belt, tied tightly around his waist, below a large, drum-like belly. His ears are pierced (and probably once had earrings made from precious metal or feathers), and armlets are incised into his upper arms. A heavy pendant rises in relief from his chest, hanging from a cord sculpted around his neck. Size: 9" W x 13" H (22.9 cm x 33 cm)
  
  Colima, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was during this time part of the shaft tomb culture, along with neighbors to the north in Jalisco and Nayarit. In this culture, the dead were buried down shafts - 3 to 20 meters deep - that were dug vertically or near vertically through the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region. The base of the shaft would open into one or more horizontal chambers with a low ceiling. These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and seem to have been used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. Colima vessels such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.
  
  Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private T. Misenhimer collection, Hollywood, California, USA, famous Hollywood film producer
  
  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.
  
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  #133795

  Condition

  Repair at neck and on one arm from its upper part to where it meets the knee. Overpainting along restored areas. Repairs are excellently done and almost impossible to see. Nice manganese deposits over the body.
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