Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 500 CE. An intriguing example of a highly stylized cargador ("carrier" in Spanish) figure, hand-carved from light grey basalt. The nude figure kneels atop bent legs with a delineated phallus in-between and bears a stocky body that gently flares outwards and rounds to form the walls and serrated rim of an integral bowl. Protruding from the bowl wall is an elongated, diamond-shaped head exhibiting shallow drilled eyes, a tapered chin, and a pair of attenuated 'horns,' and two arms extend out and become integral with the temples. Though displaying a distressed appearance, the pose of this figure is more akin to a resting position while stabilizing the tump line that would be wrapped around both the forehead and bowl. The bowl basin is carved out and was perhaps used for the preparation of hallucinogenic substances. Size: 5.5" L x 4.1" W x 6.2" H (14 cm x 10.4 cm x 15.7 cm)
For a stylistically similar example without an integral bowl on its back, please see The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number AC1998.209.4
Provenance: ex-private Meza family collection, Whittier, California, USA, acquired in the 1960s
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#153079
Condition
Repairs to areas of arms and head, with resurfacing along break lines, though nearly invisible and unobtrusive to the overall presentation. Nicks and abrasions to legs, body, bowl, arms, and head, with light encrustations, and softening to some finer details. Nice earthen deposits throughout. Old inventory label beneath base.