Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A beautiful and hand-built redware pottery statue representing a seated shaman, his posture indicative of meditative contemplation. His highly-burnished body exhibits gently bent, outstretched legs, elongated arms which fall beside his wide torso, with hands resting upon his knees. A classic shaman's horn on his forehead is secured by an incised strap, the back of his head serving as the spout, and his broad neck, shoulders, and chest are adorned with a splayed seven-petal collar. Almond-shaped eyes, a bulbous nose, thin lips, and tab-shaped ears with small piercings constitute the serene visage and imbue the figure with a trance-like appearance. The figure is enveloped in red and dark-brown pigment making it an attractive figural example from ancient West Mexico! Size: 9.6" W x 14.5" H (24.4 cm x 36.8 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. This is a figure made to be placed inside those mausoleums, perhaps to mediate between the worlds of the living and the dead.
For a stylistically-similar example, please see the Museo de America, inventory number 1985/01/118: http://ceres.mcu.es/pages/Main?idt=13896&inventary=1985/01/118&table=FMUS&museum=MAM
Another stylistically-similar example of a slightly larger size hammered for $11,400 at Christie's, New York "Pre-Columbian Art" auction (sale 1837, May 23, 2007, lot 74): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/colima-seated-shaman-protoclassic-ca-100-bc-4916338-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4916338&sid=995fac8f-ab8a-45ce-81dc-742e5974e0f3
A third stylistically-similar example hammered for $19,200 at Sotheby's, New York "African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art" auction (May 17, 2007, lot 209): http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2007/african-oceanic-and-pre-columbian-art-n08320/lot.209.html
Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection; ex-private Los Angeles County, California, USA collection
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#144367
Condition
Professionally repaired from multiple large pieces with light resurfacing and overpainting along break lines. Minor abrasions to limbs, body, and head, with softening to some incised details, and fading to original pigmentation. Light earthen deposits and fabulous manganese blooms throughout.