Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, Ixtlan del Rio, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A marvelous and massive pottery figure of a man depicted nude and sitting atop a 2-legged stool, all enveloped in a vibrant hue of orange. Leaning slightly forward, the impressive figure presents a strong physique with a broad chest, a slender waist, and a delineated phallus. Legs apart, he bends each at the knee for both feet to rest on the ground, as his tubular arms extend outward from his wide, square shoulders placing his hands on his knees. Gazing forth from slit-form eyes, his lifelike visage features a subdued countenance with arched brows, a large, upturned nose, a petite mouth, and a square jaw, all flanked by a pair of rectangular ears adorned by several hoops. A helmet-like headdress with 5 vertical rows of spikes covers the top of his lengthy coiffure, which travels midway down his back, boasting carefully incised striations that outline each and every hair. Size: 8.6" W x 17.8" H (21.8 cm x 45.2 cm)
West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this one derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. These people would build generally rectangular vertical shafts down from the ground level down to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers. The geomorphology in the area means that these chambers are dug out of tepetate, a type of volcanic tuff material, which give the chambers a rough-edged look. Although the dimensions of the chambers vary considerably - some only large enough to hold a single burial and its offerings, others seem designed to hold entire lineages - the placement of burial goods like this hollow figure was very similar. Grouped with other hollow figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, they were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull. Unfortunately, we lack the information we would need to understand what these figures were made for - do they represent everyday people, even individuals? Are they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.
Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1978.412.7.
Provenance: private Dodge collection, Superior, Colorado, USA; ex-Scottsdale, Arizona, USA collection; ex-Meza collection, California, USA, acquired around 1960
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#170592
Condition
Repaired with restoration and repainting over break lines. Restoration to back legs of stool. Repainting and modern burnishing throughout. A few expected nicks, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent.