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THBMassive Veracruz Pottery Sonriente Head, TL Tested
Lot 210a
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$4,000 - $6,000
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|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 24, 2022
Set Reminder
2022-03-24 10:00:00
2022-03-24 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Viking, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (416)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Gulf Coast of Mexico, Veracruz, Remojadas, ca. 600 to 900 CE. A massive head fragment from a hand-built pottery shaman figure, often referred to as a sonriente (smiling face), with great bitumen details. This hollow formed bust is ornately adorned with a multi-strand necklace, earspools, and a dramatically flared headdress with impressed patterning that also hides a wide vent opening on the top of the head. The visage is excellent and well preserved - slightly recessed eyes with raised pupils under an eyebrow ridge, a protruding pointy nose with nostrils, over upturned lips that reveal teeth. The mouth is open, leading into the hollow interior and the eyes, lips, and teeth are painted with black bitumen pitch. Size: 11" L x 6" W x 12" H (27.9 cm x 15.2 cm x 30.5 cm)
The smile on this one is more of a suggestion rather than the lurid grin of the standard "sonriente" figure. Smiling faces are very rare in Mesoamerican art, but in Remojadas and the surrounding area, there are thousands of these Sonrientes figures, leading to a mystery for archaeologists. Some have suggested that the smiles are the result of consuming the alcoholic beverage pulque, or taking hallucinogenic drugs; others see them as representing performers.
For a similar example and more information please see the Florida Museum of Natural History's website, Latin American Archaeology collection, object number: 37.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated.
Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection; ex-Arte Antico, New York, New York, March 17, 2019, Lot 10; ex-private Brooklyn, New York, USA collection
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.
#170495Fragment of a larger piece as shown with repairs and restoration. Repaired with infill and new material added to fissures. Nose is professionally restored with new material. First TL hole interior of neck, and second TL hole on verso of headdress. Great remains of bitumen pitch.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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