Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, Ixtlan del Rio type, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A remarkable, hand-built pottery female depicted sitting cross-legged as she holds a petite vessel in her right hand and places her left hand on her chest. The ancient figure presents a large body with broad shoulders, attenuated limbs, pointed breasts, and a giant head. She gazes forward from wide, almond-shaped eyes above a prominent curved nose with a septum ring and an open mouth with gritted teeth, suggesting that she is currently in a drug-induced state and may be a shamanic figure. A pair of sizeable ears flanks her expressive visage, each fit with an annular earspool, while a thick headband sits just above her arching brows. Her body is elaborately adorned in yellow, red, and black pigments, which form a loincloth embellished by a steppe motif pattern, large arches of body paint across her chest, a beaded necklace, and spiraling designs of face paint. Size: 5.2" L x 7.2" W x 11" H (13.2 cm x 18.3 cm x 27.9 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.
Provenance: ex-Lexington, Kentucky, USA collection; ex-Jennifer Trott collection, acquired via inheritance from a collection amassed in the 1970s to 1980s
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#168324
Condition
Repair to proper left knee and thigh with restoration over break line. Resurfacing in areas. Expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Slightly unevenness to base creating gentle wobble to figure. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments.