Impressive Nayarit Chinesco Pottery Seated Nude Male

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Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art

By Artemis Gallery

May 19, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-05-19 10:00:00 2022-05-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Ethnographica | Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographica-fine-art-9350
Featuring a very special collection of Fine Art from the Hollywood Hills, including Picasso & Rookwood ceramics! Also included are many fine examples of classical antiquities, ancient, and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, Western Mexico, Nayarit, Chinesco, Type C, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. An impressive pottery figure of a male shown seated with legs bent before him and arms crossed and resting on knees, all adorned in beige and black pigment on a red-slip ground. Hunching over, the ancient figure displays a slender body with wide hips and thick legs. His huge head presents a somber expression with heavy-lidded eyes, a curved nose adorned with a septum ring, and a straight mouth, all crowned by a helmet-like headdress. Though nude, the fascinating figure wears armbands on each arm, as well as a pair of beaded collar necklaces at the top of his chest. Stippling across his shoulders represents ceremonial scarification. Size: 8.3" W x 14.1" H (21.1 cm x 35.8 cm)
  
  This "Chinesco" figure of the Lagunillas sub-style from the Nayarit region, is notable for the smooth burnished surface, painted ornamentation, and entranced expression. This style of sculpture is known as Chinesco by collectors because of its stylistic similarities to Chinese art. Clay figures like this one are some of the only remains that we have today of a sophisticated and unique culture in West Mexico - they left no above-ground monuments or sculptures, at least that we know of, which is in strong contrast to developments elsewhere in ancient Mesoamerica. Instead, their tombs were their lasting works of art: skeletons arrayed radially with their feet positioned inward, and clay offerings, like this one, placed alongside the walls facing inward, near the skulls. An effigy like this one may have flanked the entrance to a tomb in a way that archaeologists have interpreted as guarding. Some scholars have connected these dynamic sculptures of the living as a strong contrast to the skeletal remains whose space they shared, as if they mediated between the living and the dead.
  
  Provenance: private Wabasha, Minnesota, USA collection; ex-Nancy and Dr. E.F. Simpson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from 1970 to 2000
  
  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.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #171794

  Condition

  Professionally repaired and restored with some overpainting. Expected surface wear with nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with great remaining pigments.
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